Military to bond with civilian communities –AFP

This initiative will allow the AFP to address the gap between military personnel and the civilians. (Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines/ Facebook)

MANILA –In line with efforts to bond and be one with the communities it vowed to serve and protect, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that it seeking more engagements with civilians from all walks of life.

This initiative will allow the AFP to address the gap between military personnel and the civilians.

“Through our joint initiatives, AFP’s vision of having institutional reform is now being embraced in our work culture; the gap between the military and the civilian society is filled in with substantial engagements,” AFP chief-of-staff Gen. Eduardo Año said.

This was demonstrated anew when AFP and the “Bantay Bayanihan” network reaffirmed their commitment to continue their “constructive and critical engagements” in pursuing security sector reforms last week.

“Winning and sustaining the peace is now the Filipino people’s fight and no longer the AFP’s alone; and finally, the IPSP (Internal Peace and Security Plan) “Bayanihan” culminated successfully, giving birth to DSSP (Development Support and Security Plan) Kapayapaan,” Año added.

“Kapayaan” was launched by the AFP last January. It succeeded “Bayanihan” which formally ended last Dec. 31, having been launched on Dec. 22, 2010.

While “Bayanihan”s strategic approach is the whole-of-nation approach that focused on security aspect, “Kapayapaan” is centered on the AFP’ support to the challenges on governance, development and security.