Marcos: Military”s capability still needs improvement to ‘cover our territory”

PAMPANGA — There is still a need to enhance the Philippine military’s capability in order to protect the country’s territory, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Tuesday.

Wearing a flight suit uniform, Marcos graced the acceptance, turnover, and blessing ceremony of C-295 medium lift aircraft and FA-50PH flight demonstration capability at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

“While these equipment will boost the readiness of our Air Force to respond to any contingency, there is still a need to further improve our capabilities to effectively cover our territory,” Marcos said in his speech.

Marcos pointed out that the Philippines’ archipelagic nature and geostrategic location is “both a blessing and a challenge.”

“As much as our maritime environment provides us with much needed resources, it also requires us to constantly adapt to become more mobile and agile,” he said.

Marcos said the FA-50PH fighter jets would improve the country’s maritime patrol capability, aid the Air Force in monitoring the developments within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and provide close air support to our combat troops.

He also said the additional C-295 aircraft would allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines to provide more responsive support to government agencies, especially in emergency situations and on humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The latest unit, which is a twin-turboprop transport aircraft, was part of the acquisition from Spain under the Philippine military’s modernization program 2.

The C-295 medium lift aircraft was manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space. It was delivered last February 14, 2023.

The said asset is combat-proven with high versatility as it operates under all weather conditions in all types of environment.

This will complement the capability of the military to provide airlift support during times of disasters and calamities. It will also supplement maritime patrols. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News

Marcos: Military”s capability still needs improvement to ‘cover our territory”
Source: Filipino Viral News PH