MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will be hosting the 14th ASEAN Air Chiefs Conference (AACC) by 2017.
“Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Edgar R. Fallorina will have much to do to make the event a success,” PAF spokesperson Col. Araus Robert Musico said Tuesday.
PAF’s turn to host the AACC was announced by Indonesian Air Force (IDAF) commander Air Marshal Agus Supriatna during the closing ceremonies of the 13th AACC in Yogyakarta last September 8.
The IDAF head also turned over the AACC chairmanship to Fallorina.
Musico said it would be the PAF’s second time to host the AACC; the first time is on 2007.
The bloc’s chairmanship rotates annually among the ten ASEAN member states.
Fallorina expressed his pleasure as he anticipates hosting the 14th AACC in 2017.
He invited all ASEAN Air Chiefs and their delegation to attend the conference, which will be held sometime in April 2017.
During the AACC, the PAF also plans to hold the Air Force Symposium (AFS), an annual pre-anniversary activity that showcases the importance of air power and its contribution to national security and development.
The AFS routinely serves as a venue for local and foreign defense contractors and suppliers to showcase their products and services.
The AACC is a great opportunity for enhanced cooperation, as well as, increases bonds of friendship among their Air Forces.
The outputs of the conferences held before have been the basis for cooperation in establishing several arrangements and agreements among the Air Force of ASEAN member countries, particularly, in dealing with problems on counterinsurgency, maintaining peace and security in the area and controlling non-traditional security threats.
This year, the Air Chiefs conference strived to deepen the existing ASEAN Air Force diplomacy through more people to people commitments that lead towards “everlasting friendship.”
(PNA)
BNB/PFN
