The Armed Forces yesterday said the P50 billion allocation it would get next year for the military’s modernization program is a “positive step” towards enhancing the country’s defense capabilities.
Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on Sunday said the AFP will receive a funding of P50 billion for the acquisition and upgrading of military hardware and systems under Malacañang’s proposed P6.352 trillion national budget for 2025 amid China’s worsening aggression in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military establishment “appreciates” the commitment of the House of Representatives in allocating P50 billion for the program.
“This increase, which is P10 billion higher than (this) year’s allocation, signifies the government’s dedication to enhancing our defense capabilities,” Padilla said in a statement on Sunday night.
She said the military is in the middle of implementing its modernization program which calls for the acquisition of modern assets.
The necessity of modernizing the AFP is magnified by the growing number of Chinese harassments in the WPS, the latest of which was yesterday morning when the Chinese Coast Guard performed “unlawful and aggressive maneuvers” that resulted in collisions that damaged two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels, and last August 8 when two Chinese multi-role fighters (MRFs) conducted dangerous maneuvers and launched flares on the path of a Philippine Air Force plane conducting routine patrol over the Scarborough Shoal.
Padilla said the program would require continuous funding in the coming years so the military can fully modernize.
Several big-ticket items are in the pipeline for acquisition under the AFP modernization program, including MRFs. Among those that are being considered to be acquired under the MRF acquisition are the F-16 of US and Saab JAS 39 Gripen of Sweden.
“This additional funding will enable the AFP to continue its efforts in acquiring advanced technologies, improving our capabilities in land, air, and sea operations, and addressing current security challenges,” said Padilla.
“While this allocation is a positive step, the modernization of our forces is an ongoing process that requires sustained support,” she also said.
Padilla said the military is committed to utilizing the funds efficiently “to ensure the defense and security of our nation.”
“We look forward to the continued partnership with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that our forces are equipped and prepared to meet the evolving security demands of our country,” she added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Grace Poe yesterday urged senators to stand firm in pushing for the Senate version of the proposed national budget when they convene for bicameral conference committee discussions to prevent insertions.
“Whatever is approved in the plenary, dapat ‘yun ang ipaglaban talaga sa bicam. And, if there are changes, you report… then they will confirm the bicam report or not. Dapat i-detalye na. (We should stand firm in whatever is approved in the plenary during the bicam.
And, if there are changes, these should be reported so [senators] can confirm the bicam report or not. It should be detailed),” Poe, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, said in an interview.
Poe was commenting on a query on how she can assure the public that unprogrammed appropriations will not be increased by their counterparts from the House of Representatives at the bicameral level.
During the bicameral discussions on the 2024 national budget, a provision was inserted in the General Appropriations Bill raising the budget for unprogrammed projects and allowing the reversion of “sleeping” funds of government-owned and controlled corporations to the national government.
From P281.9 billion, this year’s unprogrammed appropriations were hiked to P731.4 billion in the final and approved 2024 GAB.
Poe vowed to be transparent and to fully inform her colleagues of the full details of any revisions in the Senate version of the budget not “just (in) passing.”
“So ngayon, para walang sisihan, both houses or whoever, we really need to be upfront with our colleagues kung saan ‘yun mapupunta (To prevent blaming, both houses or whoever, we need to be upfront with our colleagues on where those appropriations will be spent),” she said. — With Raymond Africa
