Camille Naredo

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the 58th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW), September 2, 2026 at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

MARCOS

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width: 960px; display: block;" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788356834469viber_image_2026-09-02_21-44-29-190.jpg" style="width: 960px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the 58th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW), September 2, 2026 at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News"><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align: left;">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the 58th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force&rsquo;s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW), September 2, 2026 at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City. <em>Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA &mdash; President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday described the Philippine Air Force&rsquo;s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) as a &ldquo;great asset&rdquo; to the Presidency, citing its crucial role in allowing him to quickly reach communities affected by disasters and deliver government assistance.</p><p>Speaking at the Wing&rsquo;s 58th founding anniversary at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Marcos said the unit provides the mobility needed by the president, presidential staff and other government personnel to respond rapidly to situations on the ground.</p><p>&ldquo;I still believe that for a President and for the First Family, this must be one of the greatest assets that we have to use to be able to do our duty,&rdquo; Marcos said.</p><p>The president cited his activities on Wednesday&mdash;when he traveled to Tarlac, Zambales and Pampanga&mdash;as an example of how the Wing enables him to cover several areas in a single day.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2026/9/2/marcos-visits-geographically-isolated-community-in-san-marcelino-zambales-1832">READ: Marcos visits geographically isolated community in San Marcelino, Zambales</a></div><p>&ldquo;If you think that bringing me safely to a destination is already an accomplishment, that is only the beginning,&rdquo; Marcos said.</p><p>&ldquo;Dahil sa husay ninyo, nakararating ako kaagad sa mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan ng tulong at kalinga,&rdquo; he added.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>&lsquo;YOU CARRY RELIEF AND HOPE&rsquo;</strong></div><p>Marcos recalled his recent trips to disaster-hit areas, including Bacolor, Pampanga following severe flooding; Cebu after last year&rsquo;s earthquake; and Sarangani in June to inspect damage caused by an earthquake.</p><p>&ldquo;When floods and communities, for example, are isolated, you help bring us closer to the families that are waiting for assistance,&rdquo; he said.</p><p>He went on, &ldquo;When earthquakes damage homes and shake people&rsquo;s spirit, you carry relief and hope for them to carry on.&rdquo;</p><p>Marcos also noted that the 250th PAW provides mobility not only to him and the First Family, but also to presidential staff and support personnel necessary for him to perform his duties.</p><p>The Wing likewise provides airlift capability for visiting heads of state and other high-ranking foreign and local dignitaries, he added.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>LONGTIME CONNECTION TO THE WING</strong></div><p>The anniversary celebration prompted Marcos to look back on his personal history with the 250th PAW. He recalled that he had been familiar with the wing since it was formed in 1968 and was still known as the &ldquo;701st.&rdquo;</p><p>Marcos said he was eight years old when the unit was established and recalled taking his first presidential flight aboard a C-47 transport aircraft.</p><p>He also remembered the wing&rsquo;s old Sikorsky amphibious helicopter, which he called &ldquo;Tinikling.&rdquo;</p><p>&ldquo;It was the Tinikling, I remember. I cannot forget the name of the helicopter&mdash;it was the Tinikling. It suffered engine trouble over the sea. It landed in the water. It floated for a little while tapos na-swamp, tapos it was lost,&rdquo; Marcos said.</p><p>The unit later underwent several organizational changes, evolving from the 701st to the 7001st and eventually the 700th Special Mission Wing before becoming the 250th Presidential Airlift Wing.</p><p>&ldquo;I have been watching and I have been a beneficiary of the service that this Wing has been providing to the President and the First Family for most of my life&mdash;practically all my life,&rdquo; Marcos said.</p><div><br></div><div><strong>MODERNIZATION AND READINESS</strong></div><p>Marcos emphasized that the 250th PAW&rsquo;s mission requires the highest standards of safety, precision and readiness.</p><p>&ldquo;It is a very great responsibility because you cannot allow any room for error, no room for complacency,&rdquo; the president said.</p><p>He added that the Wing must perform well not only most of the time but on &ldquo;every single mission&rdquo; it undertakes.</p><p>Marcos credited the Wing&rsquo;s continuous training, capability development, modernization and improved coordination for strengthening its ability to respond to increasingly complex missions, including official engagements, emergency response and humanitarian operations.</p><p>&ldquo;Behind every successful takeoff and landing is a team that has planned thoroughly, trained constantly, communicated clearly, and carried out their duties with professionalism and with competence,&rdquo; Marcos stressed.</p><p>&ldquo;Each flight reminds us that safety must be the utmost priority in service to the nation. In a country that is tested by severe weather conditions, it is your vigilance, your discipline, and your skill that we find are essential for us to be able to do our jobs,&rdquo; he continued. In ending his speech, Marcos congratulated the 250th PAW and thanked its pilots, aircrew, maintenance and security personnel, civilian workforce and their families for their continuing service.</p><p>&ldquo;To our Bluebirds: the aircraft may carry the mission, but it is your discipline and your teamwork that make each operation possible and make each operation successful,&rdquo; Marcos said. &ldquo;Continue to fly with skill, serve with purpose, and uphold the trust that the nation has placed in you.&rdquo;</p>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday described the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) as a “great asset” to the Presidency, citing its crucial role in allowing him to quickly reach communities affected by disasters and deliver government assistance.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday described the Philippine Air Force’s (PAF) 250th Presidential Airlift Wing (PAW) as a “great asset” to the Presidency, citing its crucial role in allowing him to quickly reach communities affected by disasters and deliver government assistance.

Marcos: 250th Presidential Airlift Wing a ‘critical asset’ in reaching disaster-hit communities

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Marcos: 250th Presidential Airlift Wing a ‘critical asset’ in reaching disaster-hit communities

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 02, 2026 09:49 PM PHT

Read More:

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Philippine Air Force

250th Presidential Air Wing

disasters

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