Rear Admiral Jesus Millan FILE PHOTO
SANGLEY POINT, Cavite—With the vast sea behind him and the country’s most powerful man beside him, Philippine Navy’s newest chief assumed his new position in front of uniformed men and honored family members.
Rear Admiral Jesus Millan, Philippine Navy’s 34th Flag Officer in Command stood proud in front of hundreds of well-wishers, yet spoke humbly of his position, saying that his new post would be a challenge.
“With my new position, it goes together with honor, the honor of being in the ranks of a few chosen men who wrote their chapters in history and in the Philippine Navy,” Millan said. “A very big challenge, the challenge on how to continue the achievements and pursue the goals of our Philippine Navy.”
“An honor and challenge that I wholly accept. The trust you gave me that I would repay with excellence and loyalty,” he added while his classmates from Philippine Military Academy Sandigan Class 1982 looked with congratulatory awe.
Millan thanked President Benigno Aquino III, who was the presiding officer at the event Wednesday afternoon at Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point, Cavite, for endowing him with the responsibility.
During his speech, the new Navy Chief also honored General Emmanuel Bautista, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, and his predecessor Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano.
“The path that our Navy took wasn’t easy,” said Millan who compared the Philippine Navy to a boat. “At first, the Navy was like an unstable boat that only took a precise direction with the help of its previous Flag Officers In Command.”
Navy’s newest chief said that, within the next six years, the Navy would take a rigorous path to attain its better version in 2020.
“The remaining six years would not be easy, but with our unity and contribution, no matter how big or small, would be the symbol of our oar of a single boat towards a single goal,” Millan said.
“That is my challenge to all the members of Team Navy.”
Two visions
In his first minutes as Navy Chief, Millan foresaw two visions.
Millan’s first vision was to stand as one to attain the Navy’s goal.
His other vision was to uphold the welfare of the Navy’s members, “especially those assigned at the Kalayaan group of islands and far-flung areas of the country.”
Seven initiatives
Millan also gave his seven initiatives for his 15-month rule.
First, Millan said that the Navy would “affirm” their commitment “to the Island of Good Governance.”
Another of his initiatives was to sustain the previous reforms that his predecessors instituted for the contemporary Navy.
“We will always aspire for transparency, accountability, and judicious use of resources to sustain our Naval forces,” Millan said.
Millan said for his third initiative was to align with the AFP and the Department of Defense for security challenges of the country.
Fourth, Millan said that he would “sustain the developmental gains of the organization.”
For his fifth initiative, Millan and the Navy would improve their non-traditional duties into helping fellow Filipinos in times of calamities and disasters.
His sixth initiative was to sustain the Fleet-Marine team, the elite maritime forces of the country, to meet the “operational needs of the present.”
Lastly, Millan said that the Navy would “vigorously pursue” its human capital strategy that would prepare its members to “effectively” perform security roles.
“Sailors and Marines, I implore your full cooperation in helping your Navy leaders transform our legacy Navy to a Navy of the Future,” Millan said.
“To serve and to succeed the right and honorable way.”
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