Manila: Lt. Gen. Donald Gumiran on Tuesday formally assumed command of the Philippine Army (PA) and vowed to transform the service into a "future-ready force."

According to Philippines News Agency, he succeeded former PA chief, then Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, who was promoted to full general upon his assumption as Armed Forces of Philippines chief of staff last July 21.

The newly installed PA chief is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1992 and served as head of the Western Mindanao Command along with various other key military posts before assuming command of the Army.

In his assumption speech at Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Gumiran stated his intention to "build a stronger, more capable, and future-ready force." He expressed his commitment to providing the leadership, guidance, and enabling environment necessary to achieve this through what he described as the "S.T.R.O.N.G. Framework."

The "S.T.R.O.N.G. Framework" is an acronym for several key initiatives: "S" stands for stewardship, focusing on the responsible leadership of the PA's personnel and resources; "T" represents transformation, emphasizing continuous modernization of personnel, capabilities, doctrines, and systems to meet complex operational demands; "R" signifies readiness, ensuring a mission-ready, joint-ready, and future-ready force capable of defending the nation.

"O" stands for organizational development, aiming to build stronger institutions and promote a culture of professionalism, motivation, and excellence; "N" is for nation-building, contributing to national peace, security, and development; and "G" signifies a commitment to God-fearing values, anchoring PA personnel's service on faith, integrity, humility, and moral courage.

Lt. Gen. Gumiran concluded by stating, "We will provide the means to totally defeat the remaining internal security threats, support democratic institutions, and strengthen partnership with the Filipino people."