One vessel doesn't modernize the Phl Navy!

I’d like to make a point, especially to a lot of media men, that the arrival of the Hamilton Class US Coast Guard Cutter now renamed the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, dubbed as the Philippine Navy’s “newest and largest,” doesn’t really modernize the Philippine Navy the way the media say it does. I looked up the word “modern” in the dictionary and the closest answer says, “Belonging to the modern era or relating to a recently developed fashion or style.” Like it or not, when the Hamilton Class US Coast Guard Cutter was commissioned, I was still in 4th year high school! That’s 44 years ago!

 The US Coast Guard Cutter arrived at the Manila Harbor and was welcomed by no less than Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III (with his official family in tow) and Philippine Navy Flag Officer Vice-Admiral Alexander Pama in formal ceremonies. Of course, Vice-Admiral Pama is feeling excited these days, after all, it’s been quite some time since the Navy got a large vessel like this. But until and unless the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program under the Aquino administration starts acquiring newer vessels, it is wrong to say that we have already modernized our navy.

 In so many previous columns, we wrote that Filipinos have already shown their talents and capabilities to construct brand new Navy ships if the Philippine Government so wishes. I mentioned this during the time of then President Fidel V. Ramos to the time of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and now under Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino, III. But it seems that we are contented in acquiring old Navy ships so we can proudly say that we have modernized our Navy fleet. Far from it!

 The AFP Modernization program started during the time of FVR sold many military assets like the Fort Bonifacio so it could use the proceeds to modernize our AFP. But years later, this has not yet happened. But Fort Bonifacio has already been sold and developed and we can only sigh in frustration that, there really was no need to sell that property to land developers. They should have considered giving it a very long term lease. But alas, it’s fait accompli. Yet it has not resulted in the modernization of the AFP.

 Meanwhile, Sen. Franklin Drilon, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, is thinking of entering into a long-term lease agreement with private real estate developers to better utilize the military golf courses mostly located in Metro Manila, and I guess he is also thinking about the Mactan Golf course. While I agree with the Senator that these golf courses are better off ran or operated by private developers, it shouldn’t mean that military or police officers should not be allowed to play golf. Recreation is very much a part of the military, after all these officers also need some kind of relaxation.

 I concur that it is time for the AFP to be modernized. But there should be a body tasked to implement this modernization program. What we have right now is the wish list of the President, which means buying military equipment abroad. What I would like to happen is for the Philippines to build its own ships, its own airplanes and make its own weapons. Then one can say that finally, the AFP has become a modern fighting machine. Best of all, this program creates jobs for our people.

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 Last Sunday, I read a report that Mayor Michael Rama wants to ban the use of full-face helmets because of the rash of killings or assassinations with the killers using a motorcycle and full-face helmets so that they could not be identified by witnesses. Let me say it clearly here that I am totally against banning full-face helmets as this is what is called Prior Restraint where people using full-face helmets are already suspected of a criminal intention or wrongdoing. On the contrary, the use of a full-face helmet assures a motorcycle rider of more protection for his face.

 In the mid-70s, when full-face helmets were expensive, we had to make do of using open-face helmets. However, in one of our bike trips to Iloilo, I was behind an Illonggo rider whose bike hit a huge rock and he was thrown in front of his motorcycle flat on his face. He suffered a broken nose and lots of broken teeth. It was then I decided that henceforth I would be using a full-face helmet.

 In an accident, it saves your face from being bashed. So whenever I have friends who ride a motorcycle, I always recommend that they use a full-face helmet. So now Mayor Rama would ban these safety devices, just because killers also use the same? Mind you, in many instances, a lot of these killers on motorcycles use a bandana to cover their faces when they use an open-face helmet. A lot of motorcycle riders hide their faces from the heat of the sun by wrapping their face with a bandana or towel. Mayor Rama should promote safe riding rather than ban the use of full-face helmets.

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