DEPARTMENT of National Defense officer-in-charge Jose Faustino Jr. yesterday unveiled his 10-point agenda, including intensified efforts to protect Philippine territory and sovereignty.
“Our President has declared on several occasions that our sovereignty is sacred and inviolable, and not a square inch of what is ours will be ceded to anyone,” Faustino said, referring to President Marcos.
In a statement, the defense department said it “shall strengthen its efforts to protect Philippine territory pursuant to the 2016 Award on the South China Sea Arbitration,” referring to the July 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s excessive nine-dash line claim in the South China Sea. The ruling also affirmed the Philippines’ rights to its 200-mile exclusive economic zone.
The Philippines is locked in a territorial dispute with China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over a chain of islands, islets and other features in the West Philippine Sea. China has been aggressive in its claim over the past several years.
“We shall heighten our cooperation with state and non-state partners to improve domain awareness and maritime security, as well as pursue engagements in the international arena to advance our interests on defense and security,” said Faustino.
Faustino also wants a sustained whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach to ensure internal stability, through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
“The Department shall actively support the NTF-ELCAC,” said Faustino, noting the decades-old insurgency problem has been delaying national development.
Faustino’s third agenda is supporting the government’s peace-building efforts, especially in Mindanao. “In performing these functions, we will uphold and adhere to human rights principles, international law, and the rule of law,” he said.
He also wants to give premium on disaster resilience and climate change adaptation. As DND chief, Faustino chairs the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
“We shall pursue the Department’s efforts in strengthening institutions for disaster resilience by supporting the creation of a Department of Disaster Resilience,” Faustino said.
He also wants the DND actively contributing to the government’s efforts to address emerging and escalating cybersecurity threats. He said boosting the cyber defense capabilities and infrastructures of the Armed Forces will be prioritized.
Faustino’s sixth agenda is the continued implementation of the AFP modernization program, which he said will be pursued, especially those related to territorial and external defense.
Faustino said the DND will request Congress for a “sunset review” of the modernization program “to allow our legislators to better appreciate the program, apprise them of ways forward, and generate Congressional support for Horizon 3.”
Horizon 3 is the last stage of the modernization program. The last horizon calls for acquisition of advanced assets, including multi-role fighters and submarines.
“The jointness among the AFP Major Services must be ensured in all aspects of capability development… The Department shall pursue the realization of its modernization projects, especially on materiel defense capability focused on territorial and external defense, and achieving SRDP (self-reliant defense posture),” he said.
Faustino also wants to pursue international and security engagements that are consistent with Marcos’ directives, the country’s foreign policy, and other policies that advance Philippine interests.
Faustino also wants to strengthen the country’s reserve force, adding the DND will push for the revival of the mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in school curriculum.
ROTC was made optional by a law adopted in December 2001, or nine months after the killing of University of Sto. Tomas student Mark Chua, who was abducted and killed for exposing anomalies in the ROTC program.
“The DND will ensure that strict accountability measures will be in place to prevent the repeat of unfortunate circumstances that led to the abolition of the ROTC program many years ago,” he said.
Faustino is also out to ensure the welfare of soldiers, veterans and civilians and advocates various and necessary legal and legislative agendas that contribute to peace and security.
“These efforts in the 10-point agenda aim to build a united defense department that is not only formidable but can readily thrive under the direst of circumstances,” he said.
“Let us bear in mind that the antidote to collective weakness and the malady of disunity is ‘unity — the wellspring of boundless possibility for the country,’” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard yesterday briefed National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos about its missions, including those in the West Philippine Sea.
