MikeLigalig.com

By Priam F. Nepomuceno

Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines expressed their gratitude to the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III on Sunday for expediting the release of the P1.42-billion fund which will be used to upgrade the various military camps in the country.

Col. Arnulfo M. Burgos Jr., AFP spokesperson, said the money, released by the Department of Budget and Management, will be used to support various military camp improvement projects, including architectural and engineering upgrades amounting to P1.14 billion.

Included as well in the fund release is P282 million for the construction of a combined Arms Readiness Training Center, as well as P594,000 for training and doctrine command projects.

Burgos said that the AFP leadership deems the fund release advantageous in its efforts to expedite the implementation of the military camps and facilities improvement projects, which are included in its Bases and Support Systems Development (BSSD) programs.

The AFP spokesperson said the BSSD is one of the military's modernization and capability upgrade program’s five interlocking components which include force restructuring and organizational development, doctrines development, human resource development and capability, materiel and technology development.

As this develops, Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Arnel Paciano Casanova vowed to intensify its continued support to the AFP modernization and capability upgrade program by outlining potential fund-generating projects to benefit the military.

He also said that there are still other areas for development that must be studied.

Casanova stressed that this will ensure the proper utilization of idle military lands and is aimed at maximizing the potential of the large tracts of land located within AFP bases and camps nationwide.

"As of June 2012, the AFP share in the BCDA's Asset Disposition Program amounts to P21.788 billion. The fund has been remitted to the National Treasury, which the AFP can tap for the modernization program. We will continue to contribute to the protection of our national security by supporting the AFP Modernization Program and providing assistance in base development planning," he said.

Burgos said the AFP believes that aside from procuring weapons systems and acquiring other military hardware and equipment, "the enhancement of our camp’s administrative and training facilities within our military bases is equally important."

Such upgrade will surely boost the military personnel’s readiness and morale, enabling a better prepared and much capable military organization.

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