At the outset, join Brigadier General Miguel C Francisco in thanking all of you for honoring us with your presence today. I consider it as an expression of faith and confidence on the leadership of the AFP Dental Service.

With God’s infinite goodness, this unworthy soul receives another great blessing. And so, with deep feeling of humility and profound gratitude, take my post as the 32nd, The Chief Dental Service, AFP, and accept the Challenges and Responsibilities that lies ahead…

I thank the Chief of Staff, AFP; the Vice Chief of Staff, AFP; the Deputy Chief of Staff, AFP and other members of the Board of Generals as well as the members of the Board of Senior Officers for endorsing me to take this important job. I thank them for their trust and confidence in giving me this singular opportunity to serve the AFP in my capacity being The Chief Dental Service, AFP. It is a great honor and will forever be grateful.

Also thank Brigadier General Franciso for believing in my leadership to head the AFP Dental Service. Your track record will be a tough act to follow and may not surpass your multifarious achievements. Yet, am proud to have inherited from you a service that is known for its highly dedicated officers, men and civilian dentists.

I thank my wife-Angie; my children-Ethan and Anrei; and my Father-In-Law Colonel Ubaldo De Lara DS (Ret) for their love, understanding, support and unending prayers for my success. For the same reason, thank my brothers and sisters as well as to my sister-in-law-Mickee and brother-in-law- Bong.

Thank and honor my Tatay and Nanay, Francisco Sr and Victoria, who have both passed away, for inculcating in me the basic values of faith in God, hard work and concern for others.

I express my gratitude, likewise to the officers, enlisted personnel, civilian employees of the different units of the AFP Dental Service where was assigned way back from my heydays at 1st division-(Jolo, Sulu; Patikul and Pulacan), at DSTS; at PMA Dental Dispensary and 1301st GHQ Dental Dispensary, GHQ & HSC, all of these units with whom I have worked with for the past 23 years as an active commissioned Dental Officer of the AFP.

And most of all, to our supreme being-God Almighty, give you back all the glory and honor.

As stand before you today, have the normal fears of one being given a position of great responsibility such as The Chief Dental Service, AFP, as I know that expectations are very high. But your prayers, expression of support and encouragement has strengthened my heart and my resolve to prove equal to this formidable task

Before all of you, therefore, I make a pledge that I will do my best to be worthy of this extraordinary gift. Perhaps, The Chief of Staff, AFP; The Vice Chief of Staff, AFP as well as to each and everyone of you present here this morning would like to hear what the new-The Chief Dental Service, AFP, goals, hopes, and vision are those would like to attain during my governance.

My agenda in conceptualizing a workable and feasible management to effectively lead the Dental Service in order to improve its services are the following:

         First – Continuing the Development of the Dental Service Human Resources, Dental Officers, Enlisted Personnel and Civilian Dentists training assessment needs should be identified for the formulation and review of courses relevant to the changing system of education.

         Second - Strength the Doctrine Development. In order to propagate awareness in doctrinal studies, publication of gazette is necessary which will feature articles on doctrinal development, dental research, updates on technology and prominent advocated should be highlighted.

         Third - Facilitating a Dental Service Development Plan. Formulation of a master development plan of the different treatment facilities such as detachment, dispensaries and clinics found on bases, camps and stations should be given emphasis and through analysis in order to have a basis of standard infrastructure based on the current table of organization and equipment.

         Fourth – Continuing the AFP Modernization Program on Dental Equipment. It is imperative that the major service dental capabilities such as dental equipment should be standardized and centralized in terms of procurement for uniform capabilities.

         Fifth – Implementation of Innovative Projects. Among the innovative project being envisioned is the creation of paediatric section in the organizational set-up of dispensaries and clinics. Dental Education among our troops on the importance of being dentally fit in order to be more effective combatants, as well as, propagating measures to prevent oral health diseases. We should initiate community-based programs on preventive and interceptive measures in maintaining good oral health.

         Sixth – The Creation of dental Service Maintenance and Repair Center for Dental Equipment. This will respond to various maintenance workloads of the different dental units requiring repair and overhauling.

In summary, with all these concepts and projections in mind, the AFP Dental Service will ultimately go to greater heights and be able to appraise its performance as well as ponder on the true significance of its work, the deeper meaning of its endeavour and greater importance of its existence to human society.

Let me steer that, the well being of the AFP Dental Service does not lie on my hands alone. We must all have a fair share of not merely acting as on-lookers or spectators; but as an active and dynamic participants helping me level the manifold problems that will beset our organization.

Let us help each other…Let us keep and give our contributions to the thrust of the AFP. Let us collectively realized the truth behind the saying and quote “In Unity, there is Strength.” Unquote.

I have come to realized that most problems are resolved not only because of brilliant minds…But problems get worked-out because of the kind of commitment and level of loyalty each one of us will show.

In closing, as providently assumed during this time of year that is said to be “hot” month because we feel the heat of summer, I urge and request all of the workforce in the AFP Dental Service, to compliment it symbolically by setting the dental Service heat-up with a different level of unity.

Unity caused not only by the “Chain of Command” or “because of rank” notion,. Let your being united stern from the reason that you support my aspiration, vision and hope as your leader in the AFP Dental Service. We should be equipped with creative mind, expertise, initiative and a culture of excellence and resourcefulness.

I will continuously believe that together with my staff at the Office of the Chief Dental Service, AFP and the Dental Surgeon of the Major Services, the Officers, Men and Civilian Dentists and Employees of the AFP Dental Service can bring forth constructive and variable changes to our Dental Service.

With that, I thank you for this special