MANILA – To be aligned with its foreign counterparts, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff will also be known as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, AFP spokesperson Marine Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said on Monday.
Arevalo said this is based on the Department of National Defense's Order 174 issued on June 19.
The order also renamed the AFP The Deputy Chief of Staff to be known as Chief of the Joint Staff and the Chiefs of the Major Services formerly known as the Commanding General Philippine Army, Commanding General Philippine Air Force and Flag-Officer-in-Command Philippine Navy who are the "force providers".
"The reason for this we would like to be aligned, coordinated with the conventions (being used) by (other) Armed Forces in the world and in the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region," he said in an online interview with reporters.
He will have administrative control over these services, Arevalo added.
"Basically, the purpose of the designation and the renaming of key positions of the AFP is for effective command, control, and supervision by the Chief of Staff of the AFP who is also the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs," Arevalo said.
He said the renaming will make the AFP more responsive and capable to address current and future non-conventional threats, adding this will entail no added personnel, remuneration, or powers bestowed.
With his designation as the Chair Joint Chiefs, the Chief-of-Staff and head of the AFP will have operational supervision and control over the Joint Force Commanders of the Unified Commands, which are the "force employers".
The order is now being disseminated to all AFP units.
The AFP's Unified Commands consist of the Northern Luzon Command, Southern Luzon Command, Western Command, Central Command, Eastern Mindanao Command, Western Mindanao Command, and Joint Task Force National Capital Region. (PNA)
