High satisfaction rating proves commitment to excellence: AFP

“We assure you that we will continue to improve and capacitate our force in order to deliver excellent service and performance to our citizens and pursue the mission of securing our nation,” he said. (File photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA – The results of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) enjoys high public satisfaction proves its commitment to excellence, its spokesperson said.

“As what (SWS Deputy Director Vladymir Joseph Licudine) said, it reflects in their surveys. This means a reflection of the commitment to excellence of the leadership then and now of the (AFP), particularly our present chief, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. We assure that all of us are fulfilling our duties and those who will not fulfill should not be a part of the Armed Forces because we value so much the trust and confidence of our people in the Armed Forces, as reflected in the survey,” Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said at the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay at Cafe Adriatico” where the survey results were presented on Wednesday.

Arevalo said this means that people can count on the military at all times.

“Your soldiers, your (airmen), your sailors and your marines, (they are true to fulfilling their mission. As I have said,) across all spectrum. Just like the President said, the AFP is all-around and can be called upon in times (of) disasters, fires, terror acts, sunken ships or when somebody is buried in mining tunnels. Who are you gonna call? It’s the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.

Arevalo noted that the AFP continues to professionalize its ranks through the conduct of various training courses for its personnel.

“Second, I believe in the professionalism of the Armed Forces. Your Armed Forces now (is) composed of experienced, dedicated and learned personnel. We take up courses, not just military but even civilian courses, both local and abroad,” he added.

Arevalo also clarified that the AFP did not commission the survey.

“The Armed Forces, on behalf of Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., expresses its gratitude to the Social Weather Stations for their report, particularly to Director Vladymir (Licudine), because it is important that all of you hear the survey results straight from him. The Armed Forces has no budget to commission such a survey. It is also important to note that we did not commission it because it might be misinterpreted again by some of our friends,” he said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, AFP public affairs office chief, Capt. Jonathan Zata said the positive performance rating shown in the survey cannot be credited to the military alone.

“(Marine Brig.) Gen. Arevalo declared that not only the AFP should be credited for its excellent performance, but also concerned government agencies and local government units for playing their respective roles in helping the military perform its mandated duties,” Zata said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Philippine Army (PA) spokesperson Col. Ramon Zagala said they are thankful for the trust and confidence of the Filipino people as shown in the recent survey.

“We assure you that we will continue to improve and capacitate our force in order to deliver excellent service and performance to our citizens and pursue the mission of securing our nation,” he said.

Based on the 4th Quarter 2019 SWS survey conducted from Dec. 13 to 16 last year, 79 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the AFP’s performance, 15 percent were undecided, and 5 percent were dissatisfied.

The AFP got a net satisfaction rating of +74, or “excellent” based on the survey firm’s classification.

Some 75 percent of the respondents were also confident that the AFP could defeat the communist rebels or Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), and terrorist groups in the Philippines, such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) and the Islamic State (IS).

Meanwhile, 62 percent of the respondents said they have much confidence in the AFP in defending the territories of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea and other places against any foreign threat.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, in the Visayas, and Mindanao (sampling error margins of ±3 percent for national percentages, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao).