NETC utilization of Hyundai Buses

I. INTRODUCTION

The mission of Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) is to “Conduct individual education and training in order to provide knowledge and skills essential to the accomplishment of PN Mission.” This single statement serves as the guiding beacon of the Command for all its activities. It is also the same statement where the Commander of NETC benchmarks his programs or thrusts in administering this organization. This kind of mission outlook applies to all units of the Navy, which is aimed at accomplishing the over-all mission of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As a subordinate organization of NETC, the mission of Naval Command and Staff College aligns to that of NETC mission which is to prepare selected Company Grade and Field Grade Officers for Staff and Higher Command Position in the Navy or Marines Corps or at GHQ and AFPWSSU’s.

During the Convening Ceremony of the Naval Command and Staff Course Class of 67 on 25 August 2009, Commander of NETC, RADM VICENTE M AGDAMAG AFP stressed that NETC is doing its best to provide the most that it could for every course that is convened within its grounds. That disposition of the Commander should not surprise anybody, because providing training or education is the primary reason of existence of this institution. The Command aims to accomplish this mission under the Five Pillars of Education he mentioned as follows: competent faculty, enhanced curriculum, a facility conducive to learning, advanced references, and high-morale students. Through these pillars, NETC shall send officers fully armed and ready to be assigned into different strategic positions not only in the Philippine Navy but in the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It was during the convening ceremony where the Commander relates the experience of the AFP during the year 2000 Camp Abu Bakkar Campaign. He said that the AFP is into a full-scale war with the MILF yet the Navy’s vessel is in Singapore procuring ammunition to support the operation. The AFP does not have a good logistic support system to engage in a all-out war. And to think that it is actually a “minor” war for the entire Armed Forces of the Philippines to engage into. How can the Armed Forces of the Philippines achieve its mission to protect the people and secure the sovereignty of the state and integrity of national territory in that condition? The AFP is practically not ready to defend the country in a concentrated war, even in supporting the Philippine National Police suppressing insurgency, or against an aggression of a foreign country.

The AFP is simply a big organization living its life on a daily or piece-meal basis like an ordinary Filipino, more popularly coined as “isang kahig, isang tuka.” We do things on a reaction to something but not in preparation before things happen. We are inclined for the cure and not for prevention. The point being raised is that our attitude towards an organization is affected by our culture or mentality, however big or small is the organization handled. We are very poor in implementation even with our own logistic systems. We do not invest a lot in proper training. We simply try to comply but not achieve what we must reach.

During a visit in Sandakan, Malaysia sometime in the year 2001 for a border patrol exercise, I noticed the efficiency and effectiveness in the support system of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Mobile generator sets were lined-up at the pier providing electricity to docked Malaysian Navy vessels, however big or small. All their officers and enlisted personnel assigned in that particular area were provided each with enough housing facility that can accommodate even their own families. Costly maybe on a short perspective, but saves them money in ship maintenance and personnel management in the long term.

On 27 May 2009, DND Sec Gilberto C Teodoro Jr graced the unveiling of the Philippine Navy’s four new Hyundai buses through a caravan from Bonifacio Naval Station, Taguig City to Naval Education and Training Command in what is dubbed as “Navy Caravan 2009”1. The unveiling of these four newly-acquired buses is part of the Philippine Navy’s goal of improving mobility and transportation of its officers and enlisted personnel.

Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy, leads the contingent participating in this caravan. This contingent comprises of officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees from the Philippine Navy within the Manila-Cavite area. This caravan intends to showcase the usage of the newly-acquired buses to address the Navy personnel’s accessibility concern in going to the then Naval Station San Miguel and avail of its camp facilities.

Upon arrival at NETC, the contingent partakes in various activities which include the blessing of the NETC spider-houses, model classroom and the graduation/commissioning of Naval Officer Candidate Course (NOCC) Class 14.

Each of these newly-acquired Hyundai buses is capable of seating 45 persons comfortably. These brand new buses definitely boost the mobility requirement of Philippine Navy officers and enlisted personnel. Of the four new buses, two were subsequently handed-over to the Naval Education and Training Command while the two others were distributed to other Philippine Navy units including one for the Philippine Marine Corps. This move of providing said transport facility by the Philippine Navy leadership is laudable and may be considered as a sign that we are getting matured. That is by providing the priority needs of the organization with its meager resources. This can be attributed to our common desire to attain the Navy’s 2020 vision of becoming a strong and credible navy that our maritime nation can be truly proud of.


II. THE SPECIFIC PROBLEM
The remoteness of NETC adds financial burden to the students affecting his attitude towards learning and disposition to the service.

III. THE POSITION
The creation of a policy utilizing the NETC buses as regular week-end shuttles for students, including those from NCSC.

IV. THE NEED TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES
Why did the Philippine Navy assigned two of this buses to NETC in the first place? Probably because the current Flag Officer in Command was the former Commander of NETC before he was posted to the highest post of the navy. But definitely NOT because NETC was simply his former unit, but probably because he have seen that need particularly the students.

When NCSC Class 67 was about to convene, the College arranged to provide one bus in fetching its “new” students from Taguig City to San Antonio, Zambales. It was a very encouraging arrangement because NETC is about one hundred fifty kilometers away from the country’s center of commerce and trade – Metro Manila. NETC is very remote from other Philippine Navy camps in Manila and Cavite as well, which holds our limited housing facilities. So limited housing facilities that most officers and personnel either own or rent for themselves residences, also within Cavite and Manila area. Because of that proximity issue, others dreaded the idea of going to NETC even if it is for their career advancement. That is most likely the case because commuting from Naval Station Jose Francisco (formerly Bonifacio Naval Station) to NETC will cost every individual about Three Hundred Pesos on a single journey. While those with vehicles will spend about Three Hundred Fourteen for toll gate charges if passing through SCTEX and Subic to save on time. They will also add Sixty Five Pesos toll fee if coming from Cavite Province. And it does not end there, for their gasoline consumption of about fifteen liters will cost the student about Seven Hundred Pesos. A simple computation is shown as follows:

Toll Gate Charges : 18 + 174 + 112 = 304.00
Gasoline Expenses: 700.00
Total Expenses (One way) 1,004.00
x2
Total Expenses (Round Trip) 2,008.00
x5
Monthly Transportation Expenses 10,040.00

It is obviously very costly for each student to spend about Ten Thousand Pesos in a month. Since they are no longer attached to any unit being assigned in NETC for the course, these officers no longer enjoy gasoline allocations from their former offices, if there were any. And to save on cost, they may resort to soliciting “gas slips” from officers (and even enlisted personnel acting as POL custodians) just to alleviate the financial burden.

Absurd as it may, but money is practically among the primary factors affecting our personnel’s morale. In fact, it is among the top reasons why a lot of military officers leave the service for greener pastures. Either to seek a different career on foreign land, or use the skills they acquired from the service such as flying an aircraft or deep-sea diving.

It may be a shallow reason for officers to ponder on, but it is a reality. Every single cause of dissatisfaction, however small, adds to the over-all attitude towards the service. Private companies in Pasig City for instance, with factories in Laguna or Bulacan afford to provide daily shuttle service to its employees. And yet a military agency such as the Philippine Navy with enough available resources let its officers scamper for passenger bus to earn strategic wisdom. These are the kind of persons whom the Navy will entrust its different organizations and personnel occupying important staff positions in the future.

On the other hand, there are some unsolicited “good advice” they may receive…practice “car pooling”. In this suggestion, three or four students will “save” on transportation expenses by sharing the cost of the travel. Isn’t a forty-five seater bus the most ideal vehicle to accommodate about forty students to save on cost? It is definitely cheaper for the students to pay for the POL and toll fees of the bus. But the point is, can’t the Navy utilize the bus for its young leaders?

For what reason did the Philippine Navy provided buses for NETC anyway? Is it for the mobility of its organic personnel? Maybe… or is it for the training institution’s accessibility for the students? Again, maybe… But one thing is sure, both the organic personnel and the students are the primary considerations in its assignment to the Command. It is definitely not intended for those who will play golf or for tourists who want to visit the former communication station of the United States Naval Communications Station San Miguel3.


V. STRATEGIES TO EFFECT CHANGE
Shifting the appreciation of the Philippine Navy buses as vehicles intended to resolve NETC’s remote location issue. This shall be the most important factor to be addressed at first. No single strategy to effect the change will be effective unless we re-orient our frame of mind. Once done, we shall proceed with the specific strategies necessary.
This includes the creation of a policy at the NETC level, stating the implementing rules and regulations regarding its utilization as weekend shuttle in leaving and going to NETC.
If POL allocation is not sufficient, make proper representation with higher headquarters. Until additional POL allocation is released, students may be charged with minimal amount to cover the expenses of each trip. Fifty pesos for every student at a minimum of twenty five passengers as prescribed by regulations2 will generate at least One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty or at most Two Thousand Two Hundred Fifty when fully occupied.
VI. AFTER EFFECT OF THE PROPOSAL
One positive effect is boosting the morale of PN personnel not only those actually benefiting from it, but even those from other units specifically personnel expecting to undergo training in NETC.
Each bus festooned with images about the service is one of the Navy’s ways of promoting the Service of the Future. It is our manner of telling the youth to join the most important arm of this archipelagic country. Join the Navy and riding this bus is just one of the many fringe benefits that you will receive. Each satisfied officer is just like a satisfied restaurant customer spreading the word about how good is the service of the establishment he just visited, not to mention the delicious food he enjoyed.
As earlier mentioned, it will alleviate the financial burden of each student. It will boil down into affecting positively their morale and in fact living to its will of providing a facility conducive to learning. These are already two of the five pillars of education as highlighted by the Commander, NETC.
It may deplete the POL resources of NETC because of providing the facilities for the students, but it is the essence of the Command’s existence anyway.

VII. POSSIBLE CHANGES IF PROPOSAL WILL BE IMPLEMENTED
The adoption of these proposed measures will probably require the amendment of HPN SOP with the subject Utilization General Dispatch of PN Buses indicating that said NETC buses are actually intended for the purpose.

Though the proposed change is not in conflict with to the HPN policy, it will however best to elevate the matter at the level of the headquarters.

The Philippine Navy will need to allocate more POL provision for NETC for the succeeding years to cater to this recommendation.


VIII. EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSAL
There are three main points that merit the utilization of Philippine Navy buses. First, the very reason of providing said buses to NETC is improving mobility and transportation for its officers and enlisted personnel. Its students, who are now assigned with NETC are already personnel of the Command.
Second, the very essence of existence of NETC is for its students and not for anything else. They are its main clientele, whether officers or enlisted personnel. Hence, its facilities must be focused at catering to said end-users.
Third, the morale of the entire Philippine Navy will be positively affected, more particularly the enlisted personnel who will find-out that shuttle services are now provided by the Command. It does not only reduces their financial burden due to high transportation cost, it will also physically benefit them by traveling in safety and comfort making them well prepared mentally and physiologically for the learning process of the week ahead. This will in turn create a positive notion that undergoing training in NETC is not a suffering but sort of a vacation. NETC becomes a nice place to unwind and a venue to take a break from rigors of routine job or risky operation.