AFP turns over P16.9-M cash donation to OCD

THE ARMED  Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday turned over its donation pledge worth PHP16.9 million to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).    

AFP Chief-of-Staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., presided over the ceremony at the OCD Building inside Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
He handed over the check worth PHP16,901,934.27 to Undersecretary Ricardo B. Jalad, OCD administrator and executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

The amount was raised by the AFP general headquarters; Philippine Army; Philippine Air Force; and Philippine Navy from a portion of their members’ salaries.

The percent deduction was equitable to the soldier’s rank, including cadets, candidate soldiers, and probationary officers.

As head of the AFP, Santos gave the biggest contribution of PHP10,484, while the lowest ranking soldier -- a private, an airman, or an apprentice seaman -- donated PHP100.

The amount reflected the AFP’s present fill-up of personnel, except civilian human resources.

The AFP’s pledge of donation was a humble gesture of solidarity with the government as it shares the nation’s burden in battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Aside from the donation, the AFP continues its nationwide operations in support of combatting the deadly disease.

As of May 13, a total of 23,464 combined active soldiers and reservists have been deployed to quarantine assistance stations nationwide.

On the other hand, the military’s mobility operations since April 20 have resulted in the accommodation of 70,607 passengers and distribution of more than two million food packs in Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

Various air and naval assets have also helped carry out importation and transportation missions of medical equipment, protective gear, and supplies for patients and front-line workers.

Meanwhile, the military’s "Kapwa Ko Sagot Ko" program has already benefitted more than 55,000 persons through various lines of efforts in the National Capital Region.

These include humanitarian activities, such as the Mobile Kitchen, Tulong-Uwi, Pagkain sa Walang Bahay, Ayuda sa Mag-aaral, Sagip Kapwa, and Kabalikat Front-liners operations.