GMA Kapuso Foundation, AFP renew partnership, sign MOA anew

The GMA Kapuso Foundation and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) renewed their partnership as they once again inked a memorandum of agreement on Friday.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr. and Deputy Chief of Staff for CMO J7 Maj. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. signed with GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon, Kapuso Foundation founder and ambassador Carmela Tiangco and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Rikki Escudero-Catibog.

Also present were: GMA Executive Vice President and CFO Felipe Yalong, Senior Vice President for News and Public Affairs Marissa Flores, Vice President of Drama Productions Redgie Magno, Chief Risk Officer and First Vice President for Corporate Strategic Planning and Program Support Regie Bautista, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations J3 Maj. Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief Engineer Maj. Gen. Felipe Bejar Jr., and AFP Spokesperson Brig Gen Edgard Arevalo.

Gozon said that the agreement was merely a formality of the cooperation that has already existed for years.

"Actually hindi na natin kailangan magpirmahan dito ng memorandum of agreement dahil yung gagawin natin from here on ay ginagawa na natin ng napakarami nang taon. We are very, very thankful na nandiyan kayo," he said.

Mel Tiangco echoed Gozon's sentiments and added that the partnership is a perfect example of what the government and private sector could achieve if they worked hand in hand.

"Ito ay isang napakagandang pagpapakita na kapag ang gobyerno at ang private sector nagtulungan sa isang project para sa kabutihan ng mamamayan, success talaga. And that is a very, very clear manifestation show in our projects with the AFP," she said.

Madrigal, meanwhile, sees the agreement as a sign that both parties trust that they have a common purpose.

"Bago tayo magkaroon ng ganito usually we have to know each other, we have to trust each other. Ang maganda lang siguro dito sa pagpirma natin, this signifies that we do trust that we have a common purpose," he said.

"We both want to serve. And it is our honor to serve together with GMA Kapuso Foundation," he added. —LDF, GMA News