Rapport with troops one of PRRD’s significant contributions

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with the personnel of the 8th Infantry Division during his visit to Camp General Vicente Lukban in Catbalogan City, Samar on June 19, 2019. KARL NORMAN ALONZO/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

MANILA — For Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato, President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s frequent visit to military camps and taking time to talk with troops and their families is one of his most significant contributions to the security sector.

This is aside from supporting the ongoing modernization of the AFP and doubling the pay of all military personnel, he added.

“President Duterte has not only pursued and continued the AFP modernization but also displayed his genuine concern for the welfare of the soldiers by his frequent visits to (their) camps and personally award medals,” Detoyato said to the Philippine News Agency when asked what is the most positive contribution the Commander-in-Chief has made to the military.

Also, the Chief Executive also takes time to talk and listen to what front-line troops say along with their families, he added.

“He (President Duterte) also takes time to listen to their stories and commiserate and emphatize with them and their families,” Detoyato stressed.

Earlier, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the continued support of the President to the AFP modernization and doubling of salaries of troops heightened the sense of duty on all active-duty military personnel.

“They can do their jobs better knowing that their family are taken care of with the salary increase.

On the improvement of their equipment and know-how they will be more confident in doing their tasks. It also make them at par with the neighboring military who have been modernizing earlier. This brings pride to our soldiers,” he stressed.

Last June, Lorenzana expressed his appreciation to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for approving and giving priority to the DND request to implement the provisions of Congress Joint Resolution (JR) No. 1 or Joint Resolution Authorizing the Increase in Base Pay of Military and Uniformed Personnel (MUP) in the Government, and for Other Purposes, s.

2018 which the Chief Executive signed on January 1 of this year.

“Truly, your unparalleled support for our uniformed personnel serves as our guiding light as the AFP continues to pursue its duty to the Filipino nation,” the DND chief said earlier.

Through the MUP pension increase, Lorenzana said the sacrifice and dedicated service of all Filipino soldiers have been truly and duly recognized.

It will be recalled that the DND, by virtue of an official letter to Malacañang written on May 17, 2019, recommended that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) be directed to implement the pension indexation under JR No. 1, s. 2018 and release additional funds for that purpose.

The letter was signed by Defense Undersecretary Cardozo M. Luna, who was then officer-in-charge of the DND.