Pasay City – Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito B. Plaza has been recently designated by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as the new Wing Commander Officer of the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve (AFWR) of the Philippine Air Force (PAF). This is also supported by command of the Presiding Officer, Philippine Air Force Reserve Commander Major General (MGen) Edward L. Libago during the Change of Command Ceremony on 22 November 2021 Monday.
With this new commitment, Plaza expressed her acceptance as the new Wing Commander Officer stating, “Today’s occasion is undeniably a remarkable milestone as I take on bigger and deeper responsibilities that are now bestowed upon me.”
The handover of the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve Unit Standard from Outgoing Wing Commander of the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve (AFWR) BGen Raymundo T. Francisco towards new Wing Commander Brigadier General (BGen) Plaza was held virtually via Zoom.
“I am thankful for the trust and confidence of Commanding General Philippine Air Force Lieutenant General Allen T. Paredes for choosing me to lead the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve, the kind approval of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte of this designation, and the assistance and support of the Air Force Reserve under the leadership of Major General Edward Libago,” added the PEZA Chief.
Meanwhile, BGen Francisco said, “I will leave the Command which has been my home for 30 years with fond memories. I hereby relinquish my duties and responsibilities as Wing Commander of the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve effective this day [November 22]. To Brigadier General Plaza, I am ready to be relieved.”
New Wing Commander Officer BGen Plaza’s outlined goals
Prior to the Change of Command Ceremony, the PEZA Director General was one of the co-authors of the Reservist Law Republic Act (RA) 7077, thus, she is among the first Founding Reservists and Wing Commander of the entire Mindanao 3rd Air Force Wing Reserve and later, the 7th Air Force Wing Reserve where she was actively involved in disasters, calamities, and emergency responses.
As the new 1st AFWR Wing Commander, PEZA Director General and BGen Plaza shared the goals she plans to achieve with the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve.
Plaza highlighted, “First, let us organize, train, and fully equip the LGUs, national government agencies, and private companies to become effective responders during disasters, calamities, emergencies, and in nation-building. Second, let us help in fostering peace and prosperity in Metro Manila.”
The new Wing Commander also mentioned the importance of the Reservist Program citing that “under the Reservist Law RA 7077, the Armed Forces and its Affiliated Reserve Units of various government agencies and private utilities can be called by the President of the Republic of the Philippines who is the Commander-in-Chief in times of disasters, calamities, emergencies, and war to achieve and maintain peace, order, security and stability in times of distress.
1st Wing AFRC Majors Deputy Director General for Policy and Planning Tereso O. Panga (right) and Deputy Director General for Finance Justo Porfirio Ll. Yusingco (left) attended the Change of Command Ceremony in support of PEZA Director General B. Plaza's assumption as First Air Force Wing Reserve Commander
PEZA Transformation Road Map
The PEZA Director General reinstated that her new responsibility is not to militarize the Agency but rather to help fortify partnerships between PEZA, the LGUs, PAF, and AFP especially for the utilization of military reserved areas and its transformation to become Defense Industrial Complexes under the Agency’s Transformation Road Map (TRM).
Plaza expressed, “Under our TRM is also our PEZA Reservist Program, one of the long-running projects which I have instituted as the Director General of PEZA. With this, we seek to make our economic zones attractive to investors by assuring their safety and security with PEZA.”
She has also stated that “PEZA will soon be officially designated as the Affiliated Reserved Unit of the Philippine Air Force (PAFARU).”
Philippine Air Force Reserve Commander Major General (MGen) Edward L. Libago said, “We welcome and thank you Director General Plaza for accepting the responsibilities as the new Wing Commander of the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve.”
“As the newly designated Wing Commander, I am confident that under Plaza’s leadership, the 1st Air Force Wing Reserve will carry out programs that will elevate the competence and integrity both of our uniformed personnel and reservists,” added MGen Libago. #