With 100 days left in office, President Aquino said yesterday he would be leaving behind a modern and professional Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with high morale.
In his final appearance at the Philippine Army anniversary celebration, the President took pride of the positive transformation of the military under his watch, saying it has become a reliable uniformed force ready to defend the country’s peace and stability.
“Ito na nga po ang Army at AFP na ipapamana natin bilang isang namamaalam na Commander-in-Chief: Isang hukbo na napakataas ng moral at handang-handa para sa anumang hamon; isang hukbo na tangan ang pagkilala at respeto ng taumbayan; isang hukbong propesyonal at may matibay na mga prinsipyo,” Aquino said.
Aquino will end his six-year term this June after carrying out a reform agenda to curb corruption and poverty in the country. In the face of unresolved territorial dispute in the South China Sea and other internal security threats, the modernization of the Armed Forces has been one of the priorities of the Aquino administration.
Speaking to the Army officials and personnel at Fort Bonifacio, the President gave a rundown of the administration’s programs aimed at upgrading the capability and benefits of the military since 2010.
He said the government carried out 68 big ticket projects worth P58.43 billion for the modernization of the Armed Forces. From these projects, the Army benefited 26 modernization programs estimated P7.79 billion.
Apart from AFP capability upgrade projects, Aquino said his administration also built 61,000 housing units for soldiers and policemen in the country.
