ASCom gets facility boost
The undertaking is ‘another milestone in upgrading our military facilities’ which is a thrust towards the ‘AFP Modernization Program’
CAMP AQUINO, Tarlac City — The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) turned over the newly-constructed Army Support Command (ASCom) facilities to the Philippine Army during a short program held at Camp Aquino in Tarlac City recently.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, alongside Army commanding general Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and ASCom commander Maj. Gen. Glenn Cruz received the symbolic key of the replicated facilities from BCDA officer in charge Atty. Aristotle Batuhan.
Twenty-one completed buildings out of the total 44 facilities were turned-over to ASCom during the ceremony while the construction is expected to be completed by August 2022.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff General Andres Centino and Northern Luzon Command (NolCom) commander Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr. were also present to witness the event.
Lorenzana said that the undertaking is “another milestone in upgrading our military facilities” which is a thrust towards the “AFP Modernization Program.”
“This will have a positive impact on the readiness of our combat support and service battalions in providing firepower, transportation, as well as organizational and maintenance equipment to army units on the ground,” Lorenzana said.
The Defense chief also expressed his gratitude to the BCDA, describing them as “one of the AFP’s strongest pillars of support” in attaining the AFP’s vision into becoming a world-class Armed Forces.
Multiple headquarters facilities, officers’ quarters, barracks, a warehouse, student classrooms, and transportation and maintenance battalion areas were among the completed and turned-over facilities of the BCDA, which had an estimated cost of P1.5 billion.
The new ASCom area in Camp Aquino provides easier and more efficient logistics operations due to its strategic location that lays out ease of movement and security of access from one place to another for the deployment of support services.
Subsequently, Lorenzana together with the visiting generals had a dialogue with the NolCom senior officers led by Lt. Gen. Ernesto Torres Jr, and a “Talk to Troops” where he addressed the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian human resources and other units under NoLCom via video teleconferencing.