AFP to hold 'subdued' anniversary celebration

MANILA, Philippines - The military will tone down the celebration of its 77th anniversary on Dec. 21 and use the savings to support disaster response efforts.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Brig. Gen. Aurelio Baladad said some parts of the anniversary program would be scrapped to make it less costly.

“It was toned down in a sense but there will still be a celebration. The parade will still continue,” Baladad said in an interview Monday.

“One of the intentions is to use the savings for disaster response operations,” he added.

Baladad said among the elements to be removed are the military floats and the display of air assets being used in relief operations. The “fly-by” exhibition of Air Force fighter jets has also been scrapped.

Some traditional parts of the celebration were scrapped including the AFP Ball and the much-anticipated "fly-by" exhibition of Air Force fighter jets.

The number of parading troops would also be reduced by a battalion or roughly 400 members.

“Many motorized elements were removed (from the traditional parade),” Baladad said.

Motorized elements include troops inside armed personnel carriers, navy boats and construction equipment.

Baladad could not provide an exact amount but claimed that the savings to be generated would be huge.

“It can fund the additional repairs of our camps especially those assisting in Mindanao so that the conditions of those involved in (disaster response) will be improved,” he said.

Baladad was referring to military posts affected by typhoon “Pablo,” which has left more than 1,000 people dead.

The celebration of the 76th anniversary of AFP last year was also toned down to express solidarity with the victims of tropical storm “Sendong.”

The savings were used to fund the relief operations in Mindanao.

Some traditional parts of the celebration were also scrapped including the AFP Ball and the much-anticipated "fly-by" exhibition.

During that time, soldiers voluntarily donated a P90 daily subsistence allowance.