President Aquino to grace 67th anniversary of
Philippine Air Force
President Benigno S. Aquino III will grace the
celebration of the 67th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) in Clark
Field, Pampanga on Tuesday.
“The Commander-in-Chief will give thanks to the
men and women of the Philippine Air Force, and will speak about additional
capability enhancements that the administration is undertaking to enable our
uniformed services to effectively meet the challenges of their
responsibilities,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during
Monday’s press briefing in Malacanang.
Part of the PAF modernization is the acquisition
of 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets from South Korea, Lacierda said,
adding that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released a
Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the P18.9-billion project.
“With this, we can only expect the PAF to
further improve its capacity to carry out its mandate as the ‘First Force,’ not
only in times of calamity but also in times of stability,” he said.
Lacierda meanwhile noted that Monday marked
President Aquino’s fourth year in office.
“Throughout these past years, we have remained
focused on the commitments we outlined in our social contract with Filipinos,”
he said.
“In the remaining two years of the
administration, the President and his team will continue the active pursuit of
a Philippines where no one is left behind, capitalizing on the many significant
gains we have collectively achieved.”
The Presidential Spokesperson said that
inclusive growth for all means sharing the responsibility of nation building.
“We are all reminded that the task of nation
building is not left to government alone, and that each of us must put our
country above ourselves as we work toward realizing our shared aspiration: a
truly just and equitable society,” he added. PND (ag)
Aquino to submit proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law
to Congress after SONA, says Palace
Malacanang said on Monday that President Benigno
S. Aquino III will submit the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law to Congress for
ratification after he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July
28.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin
Lacierda expressed confidence that Congress will enact the bill into law.
“We have always stated that the President will
submit the Bangsamoro Basic bill after the SONA. The President will certify it
as urgent and we are confident that the Bangsamoro Basic Bill, while it will go
through the legislative process, will become a law,” said Lacierda.
The Office of the President received the draft
of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) from the Bangsamoro Transition Committee last
May, and the President’s legal team and the Office of the Chief Presidential
Legal Counsel. have been studying it since.
Lacierda reiterated that the draft of the
Bangsamoro Basic Law was made within the framework of the Constitution and is
thus constitutional.
“We believe that what will be filed in Congress
will be constitutional,” Lacierda noted. PND (ag)
