AFP receives protective gear, equipment worth $1M from US

Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina, Armed Forces of the Philippines’ deputy chief of staff, checks the new equipment for the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear (CBRN) platoon Army Support Command (Ascom) of the Philippine Army donated to the AFP by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency of the United States on Sept. 17 at Camp Aguinaldo. PHOTO COURTESY OF AFP PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has received $1 million worth of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protective gear and detection equipment from the United States intended for the Army Support Command on Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo.

“We started with a small number; now we’re having a platoon size and with the corresponding equipment. We really thank the US government for the support,” AFP deputy chief of staff Lt. Gen. Edgar Fallorina told reporters after the turnover ceremony.

“The donation of these equipment … will go on. This will be replicated in other major services until such time we have substantial number personnel really qualified for CBRN activities,” he said.

The donation will allow the AFP to conduct CBRN site assessments to mitigate risks and gather intelligence on chemical agents, biological agents or other potential chemical hazards.

At least 30 soldiers for the CBRN platoon of the Explosive Ordnance Battalion are now “highly-trained and mobile.” They are undergoing refresher training to ensure they have retained knowledge from their previous trainings in Aberdeen, Maryland, with the US Armed Forces in August.

The AFP received 501 pieces of CBRN equipment that arrived on Sept. 6. It includes protective gear (suits, gloves and boots), self-contained breathing apparatus, decontamination items (flexible waste water tank and various types of water hoses), consumable support items, reusable support items (toolbox and bolt cutter), technical/training reference materials, power supply facilities, team communication items and other materials.

“The equipment that we have collaboratively worked with and trained on and provided to the Philippine government is exactly the same equipment that we provide to our own military forces and to our civilian counterparts,” said US Army Col. Kenneth Deal of the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Frances Mangosing/RC