President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged the military and uniformed personnel to continue fulfilling their mandate to keep the Philippines a “safe, peaceful and prosperous” nation.

Marcos made the call when he administered the oath of office to the newly-elected board members of the Assembly of Service Academies and Schools Alumni Association of the Philippines (ASASAAP) in a ceremony at Malacañan Palace in Manila.

In his keynote speech, the President urged the ASASAAP members to nurture a “genuine sense of compassion, integrity, and patriotism.”

“By being leaders of this organization, you hold great influence over the professional and personal growth of our uniformed personnel,” he said. “I, therefore, call on all of you to support our goal of promoting inclusive development across the country and maintaining a safe, peaceful, and prosperous Philippines.”

Marcos assured the ASASAAP of his administration’s support of the association’s endeavors that would contribute to the well-being of its members, as well as the Filipino people.

He made the commitment, as he acknowledged the men in uniform’s vital role in attaining the government’s goal of promoting inclusive development in the country.

He said a “whole-of-society” approach makes government programs “more effective.”

“With your extensive collective experience and expertise, this government will always be willing to work and discuss with you matters of national security and public service in general. As you lead this organization, may each of you remain dedicated in your service to your members, even as you empower your respective academies, fellow alumni, and even cadets,” Marcos said.

“I am thus certain that, with the opportunities for networking and mentoring, our uniformed personnel will find the support they need to navigate the taxing and demanding paths that their roles entail. Apart from this, we certainly recognize the immense value of your association for the country as a whole.”

Acknowledging the ASASAAP’s lasting impact on its members, Marcos expressed hope that the association would continue its legacy of promoting lifelong development.

“What this association embodies, through the synergy of the institutions that make up your group, that is exactly the unity that this administration has advocated for even before this term has begun,” he said.

Retired Gen. Edgar B. Aglipay is the chairman emeritus and founder of the ASASAAP. More than 60 board members of the association attended the oath-taking ceremony.

Formed on Jan. 15, 2021, the ASASAAP aims to provide an avenue among academies and schools alumni towards the enhancement of professional and leadership skills, establishment of a strong network and engagement links, organization of joint management and entrepreneurial activities, and participation in policy formulation in nation-building.

The ASASAAP is composed of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc., the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy Alumni Association, Inc., Philippine National Police Academy Alumni Association, and Philippine Air Force Flying School Alumni Association, Inc.

Other member organizations are the Officer Candidate School Alumni Association, Inc., Coast Guard Officers’ Course Alumni Association, Inc, and Alumni Society of Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific, Inc. (PNA)