Strengthening the country’s airpower capability was among the points of discussion in the 2nd Quarter Command Conference of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) led by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Monday.

According to Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, Marcos was “briefed on the recent activities, plans, and proposed projects” of the PAF.

“The President gave his guidance and instructions on some of the proposed programs to further strengthen the PAF as it defends the country’s sovereignty, territory, and development,” she added.

The Commander-in-Chief was accompanied by high-ranking defense and security officials including Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Romero Brawner, and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen. Stephen Parreño.

Also in the meeting were Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo.

Meanwhile, the PAF said in a separate statement that Parreño, along with Air Force Unit commanders and senior Headquarters PAF staff officers, provided insights and recommendations to the President on ways to further “strengthen the country’s airpower capability to effectively guard and defend our nation from various emerging security challenges, including enhancing our capabilities for disaster response.”

The AFP’s air wing also expressed its appreciation to the President for personally leading the command conference.

“The Philippine Air Force expresses its deep appreciation to our Commander-in-Chief for his guidance and personal engagement with our leaders in this 2nd Quarter Command Conference, and we look forward to his continuous support in our modernization efforts to become a truly capable, credible, and sustainable Air Force that our nation needs and deserves,” the PAF said. (PNA)