Air Force vows to defend Phl territory

CLARK, Pampanga – The Air Force on Monday expressed readiness to defend the country’s territory even as it admitted that such a task poses a huge challenge.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz said the challenge lies on the vast waters and air space of the Philippines as an archipelagic nation.

“Our country is an archipelagic nation and this poses a huge challenge in terms of securing our territory. The waters and air space that we need to secure are so vast. We have to travel more than 200,000 miles to secure our waters and islands,” he said.

“Despite this, we will not falter in our resolve to secure them and ensure that the natural resources and possessions of our country are taken care of and, if necessary, defended,” he added.

Dela Cruz is optimistic that the acquisition of new equipment would enable them to carry out the crucial task.

The Air Force chief made the remark amid the ongoing territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which has triggered tensions in the region.

China continues to take advantage of the Philippines’ lack of defense capability by shoring up its presence in areas that lie within the country’s continental shelf.

Beijing has strengthened its presence in the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Zambales and Ayungin Shoal off Palawan.

China has also built structures in the Mischief Reef or Panganiban Reef, which is about 70 nautical miles from Palawan and Subi Reef, an islet 12 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa Island in the same province.

Air Force spokesman Col. Miguel Okol, however, said Dela Cruz was referring to “total territorial defense” in general. He noted though that incursion is one of the maritime threats that they seek to address.

“We lose so much in terms of poaching we also lose so much in terms of smuggled goods coming in from the backdoor or eastern side. These things we would like to address in order for us to work with other agencies,” Okol said.

While the Air Force is waiting for the new equipment to be provided by the government, it is undertaking programs aimed at repairing existing air assets.

Dela Cruz said they were able to recover or put back into commission one C-130 Hercules, two N-22 Nomads, one  F-27 Fokker, one Cessna 210, one MG-520 attack helicopter and one UH-1H helicopter last year.

He said these recovered assets helped them accomplish their multi-faceted missions such as humanitarian efforts and disaster relief.

The Air Force displayed the capabilities of several of its air assets during the celebration of its 66th anniversary in what seems to be an effort to dispel notions that it is “all air but no force.”

The ceremony started through a high-speed opener pass by an S-211, and two SF-260FH planes.

The audience were also treated with a fly-by of nine T-41-D aircraft, three S2-11, two SF-260TP, three Nomad-22 planes, two F-27, three C-130 cargo planes, six UH-1 helicopters, one S-76A (Sikorsky) helicopter, one B-205 Bell, one Huey II, six Sokol helicopters and four MD-520 MG aircraft.