THE Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. PamCham attended as member, the first meeting of the Philippine Air Force’s Multi Sectoral Governance Concil (PAF-MSGC) last October 28, 2019 at the invitation of Major General Allen Paredes, commander of Clark Air Base’s Air Logistics Command, AFP.
Also present in the meeting was Vice Governor Lilia Pineda who was elected as chair of the MSGC, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Vince Dizon, CDC president Noel Manankil, LGC president and PamCham director Paul Laus and the officers of the Clark Air Logistics Command completed the council’s membership.
MSGC members are tasked to provide advice and guidance in the accomplishment of PAF’s Breakthrough Goal 2028 to “Develop a Credible Air Defense Posture in the Philippine Defense Area of Operations.”
According Paredes, defense modernization is necessary for the PAF to deliver on its task of defending the country from the air. He added that personnel training and upgrade of their equipment are included in their plans, expressing hope that through the MSGC, particularly with the help of the business sector, they can have partners in the development of PAF’s own aircraft depot level maintenance service facility.
The council members agreed that fund allocation should be given priority. First and foremost, for the implementation of the modernization plans, and second, for public communication that will improve public perception and elevate approval of PAF.
PamCham president Rene Romero proposed to invite the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), proponent of the Performance Governance System (PGS) that is now espoused by the PAF, to give an orientation to the MSGC members to better guide them in their role as an advisory body.
For PamCham, the invitation to join the PAF-MSGC was personally given by Paredes in a courtesy visit to Romero last October 8.
In the same visit, the Air Logistics commander also presented PAF’s vision of “a more capable and credible air force responsive to national security and development;” its mission “to organize, train, equip, maintain and provide forces to conduct prompt and sustained air operations to accomplish the AFP mission” and its core values of “integrity, service above self, team work, excellence and professionalism.” (PR)