PNoy: Days of rusty Navy ships over

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said days of a "rusty" Philippine Navy is over during the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) anniversary on Friday.

Aquino, who took the field instead of riding a military jeep or “the white carabao”  while trooping the line during the 77th founding anniversary celebration of the AFP, assured the military leadership of his administration’s support to the military modernization program while indirectly taking a swipe at China.

“Our sailors’ fear of getting infected by tetanus from our rusty ships has ended,” the President declared in the yearly military event.

Without directly referring to the standing territorial row over the West Philippine Sea, where China has been putting forward its territorial claim to almost the entire region more aggressively, the President said that once modern Philippine Navy ships are operations the Philippines would be at par with that of foreign intruders claiming the country’s maritime domain.

He added that the Navy should now start preparing its ports for these modern warships that would be deployed to protect the country’s maritime domain. The President was apparently referring to four modern warships which the Department of National Defense (DND) is negotiating to acquire from Italy.

Two of these warships are the missile and torpedo firing Maestrale Class ship, which is expected to be delivered to the country next year.

“Tapos na rin po ang araw kung kailan mas pinangangambahan ng Hukbong Dagat ang 'tetanus' mula sa kinakalawang na barko kesa sa mga banyagang umaangkin sa ating teritoryo (The days of our troops' fear of 'tetanus' more than other nations claim over our territory are over),” the President declared in his speech.

New equipment for army, air force

The President also said that it is also about time for aging Army military vehicles to retire for new and faster tanks and trucks, while pointing to the assembled military vehicles, ambulances and armored personnel carriers  inside the Camp Aguinaldo parade ground.

He also pointed out that soldiers should be armed with modern weapons as well as force protection equipment for them to make the Filipino people safe and away from any dangers ahead, as he urged them to also pay their tribute to the people they served because of their unwavering support to the government.

Under the military modernization program, the Philippine Army has also programmed a land-based defense system which includes the acquisition of big ticket items to include modern tanks, high-impact artillery batteries.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF), on the other hand, is also fast-tracking its programmed acquisition of a squadron of leaf-in fighter jets and radars in order to protect the country’s airspace.

“Consider all these as an early Christmas from the Filipino people for overflowing trust in you,” the President told the troops.

AFP chief General Jessie Dellosa, for his part, said that the Filipino soldiers are ever thankful for the President and the commander-in-chief for his full support to the military's modernization program.

Dellosa said the government’s Pabahay Program have already benefitted 9,388 soldiers and with the recent signing of the New AFP Modernization Act, the AFP will now be able to procure needed military equipment to upgrade its fighting capabilities.

“Slowly but continuously we are now procuring military hardware to upgrade our fighting capabilities so that we will no longer rely (to defend us) from outside help,” Dellosa said.

He added that even before the New AFP Modernization Act was signed, the President has already earmarked P28 billion to modernize the military.