Guam National Guard briefs PH Consulate on SPP

Consul General Marciano R. De Borja, middle, poses for a photo with Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, third from left, and other delegates of the Guam National Guard. Joining them are, from left, Consul Mark Francis Hamoy, Col. George L. Charfauros, Col. David Riano, Maj. Jumar Castro, and Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian. (Allan Tangayan)

A delegation from the Guam National Guard led by Maj. Gen. Benny M. Paulino, and composed of Col. David B. Riano, Col. George L. Charfauros, and Maj. Jumar “Jay” Castro, visited the Philippine Consulate General on Sept. 29, 2014, to brief Consul General Marciano R. De Borja on the activities of and future events lined up under its State Partnership Program with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Riano provided a brief background on the history of the SPP that began in 2001, focusing on civil military operations, professional development and humanitarian assistance/disaster response. In 2012, it expanded to include subject matter expertise exchanges, in partnership with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. In 2013 it became a sub-committee within the RP-US Mutual Defense Board. The SPP operates under the authority of the United States and the Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty and is the first of its type in the Asia-Pacific region followed by the Washington National Guard-Thailand Partnership.

Castro then provided a briefing on the various SPP program components and activities and highlighted past achievements, mainly in the Philippines, such as exchanges of AFP Senior Staff, Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response, Medical and Dental Exercises, Engineering Expertise, Professional Development Expertise, U.S. Army ROTC Culture and Language Exchange, and other bilateral engagements between GUNG and the AFP. He said that there were 83 programs that have been completed under the program from 2003 to 2014.

For 2014, a total of 17 SPP programs have been planned and 13 have already been completed. Among the four remaining programs to be implemented for 2014 is the AFP ROTC Exchange to be participated in by 13 participants from the different colleges/universities in the Philippines. It will be held in the University of Guam on Oct. 19-24, 2014.

De Borja expressed appreciation to Paulino and his delegation for regularly giving the consulate a briefing and updates on the SPP. He also expressed appreciation to the Guam National Guard for doing the SPP, which contributes to building the capability of the AFP and helps various community projects.

Joining the consul general during the presentation were Consuls Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian and Mark Francis C. Hamoy, and Angie Cirineo. (PCG Agana)