FORT MAGSAYSAY, Palayan City– Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar and Regiment and ranking military officers led the inauguration of a new hangar facility at the Philippine Army’s Aviation Regiment here on last Saturday.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was unable to come and was represented instead by Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo B. Burgos, Jr., PA Northern Luzon Commander, and PA Aviation Regiment Commander, Andre B, Santos.
The new hangar is a joint undertaking of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the DPWH under the so-called Tatag ng Imprastruktura para sa Kapayapaan at Seguridad (TIKAS).
The TIKAS program was initiated for the mutual benefit of the two agencies wherein the DND can mount projects with the DPWH while the soldiers shall safeguard infrastructure projects in conflict areas.
Santos said the new Army Aviation hangar will serve as quarterage for the new air assets of the Philippine Army, enable the regiment to conduct aircraft maintenance activities 24/7, and enhance the command’s capabilities in safeguarding its equipment and assets.
Aside from the P63.1-million Army Aviation hangar, a P39.2-million, two-story administration building of the Light Reaction Regiment was also inaugurated.
Villar said the completion of the military facilities is expected to boost military defense operations. “This defense standard military hangar is capable of accommodating government aircraft for storage, maintenance, and rapid deployment when needed,” he added.
Villar said the national government through the DPWH will continue to support the construction of modern military structures in the country.
“This year, our agency will also construct another hangar and the new headquarters building of the Army Aviation Regiment. Under the agency’s proposed FY 2022 National Expenditure Program, a total of 14 projects under the TIKAS program have been proposed with a total project cost of P210-million and I hope it will be approved by Congress,” he added.
Likewise present during the facility inauguration were AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, J4., Maj. General Rene S. Diaz, who represented AFP chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino Jr.; 7th Infantry Division Acting Commander, Brig. Gen. Luis Rex D. Bergante; and Regiment Commander of Light Reaction Regiment, Brig. Gen. Monico E. Abang.