Benefits, welfare first for soldiers; equipment later: Miranda

March 7, 2017

The Philippine Army is not rushing to buy big ticket items.

Acting Army Chief Gen. Glorioso Miranda said the Philippine Army is prioritizing the benefits and welfare of its soldiers.

“With the requirement of the current operational environment, so we prioritized benefits or welfare of our soldiers, like the force protection, helmet to increase their survivability and we are also investing much in training to further improved their capability and so with the others, then we are going with the big ticket items later on,” he said.

It can be recalled during the previous administration the acquisition of shore-based missile system which was one of the big ticket item on the Philippine Army modernization was removed from the priority list last 2015.

The 6.5 billion peso budget for the missile system was reportedly realigned for the acquisition of helmets, night goggles, body armor and radios that the soldiers can use to fight terrorist threats.

Miranda said acquiring the shore-based missile system remains on the list, but he does not see the need to buy one.

“The land based missile system it remains in the list in the meantime but i don’t see that it is necessary for us to procure that in the meantime,” Miranda said.

“Because we prioritized on our troops for the meantime. We are lacking in small things like the first aid, and everything so we are giving emphasis more on our troops. We procure that, those big ticket items when the time comes, but now it’s not yet the time,” he added.
Robina Asido/DMS