PAF relocates Atienza Air Base from Sangley Point to Cagayan de Oro
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has relocated the Major Danilo Atienza Air Base (MDAAB) from Sangley Point, Cavite to Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City as part of its strategic basing plan.
Colonel Ritza Ann Jovellanos, acting PAF spokesperson, said among the units that were transferred were the 18th Attack Squadron, 20th Attack Squadron, and the 462nd Rotary Wing Field Maintenance Squadron of the 15th Strike Wing.
The Lumbia Airport is an Air Force base which previously served as the home of the PAF’s Tactical Operations Group (TOG)-10, the Air Force unit primarily tasked to ensure security in northern Mindanao.
The transfer was part of a strategic positioning of the PAF’s units to support the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad.
“If you would note, it's the 15th Strike Wing that will be transferring into the area. So much of the capabilities of the 15th Strike wing will be needed more on the north or southern part of the area, covering the 360-degree of the entire archipelago,” he explained.
In addition, the PAF said the transfer is a strategic move to decongest Sangley Point, which hosts Philippine Navy personnel and assets.
“We have the Navy there [Sangley Point] so it’s better if we have our own area, especially if we need more expansion. We will have better facilities,” Jovellanos said.