PARTY-LIST Rep. France Castro (ACT) yesterday called on House leaders to heed the call of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for more intelligence funds and realign the P500 million intelligence fund of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) in the proposed P5.768 trillion 2024 national budget to the PCG.
“Ang PCG ang palaging humaharap sa pambubully ng China tapos ang intel funds nila ay P10M lang mula 2009, samantalang ang OVP na wala namang kinalaman sa intelligence gathering ay napakalaki ng intel funds (The PCG has always been the one at the forefront of China’s bullying and yet it’s intel funds is only P10 million while the OVP, which has nothing to do with intelligence gathering, has a huge intel fund),” Castro said in a statement.
If the OVP is really concerned with national security, then it should have no objections and would in fact support the transfer of its P500 million funding to the PCG, added the militant lawmaker who is also a deputy minority leader.
Reacting to Castro’s statement, Vice President Sara Duterte said: “The matter of the confidential funds should be left to the wisdom of the entire membership of the House of Representatives and the Senate and not to Ms. France Castro.”
Castro earlier said the P150 million confidential and intelligence funds of the Department of Education (DepEd), which is also headed by Duterte as concurrent DepEd secretary, should be realigned to the government’s early child development program.
“Sa totoo lang ang confidential and intel funds sa Deped at OVP na aabot sa P650M ay pork barrel lang ng bise presidente. It is high time na i-realign ito sa PCG para magamit laban sa mga dayuhang nanghihimasok sa ating teritoryo (In truth, the confidential and intel funds of the DepEd and the OVP worth P650 million is just the pork barrel of the Vice President. It’s high time that the funding is realigned to the PCG so it could be used against foreigners encroaching in our territory),” she said.
DEFENSE SECTOR
Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives supports the proposed increased spending for the defense sector under the 2024 national budget to bolster the country’s capability in protecting its territorial integrity.
The Speaker made the statement while in Jakarta, Indonesia as head of the Philippine delegation to the 44th AIPA (ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly) General Assembly.
“Our commitment to safeguarding our territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of our citizens remains unwavering. As a nation, we must take proactive measures to enhance our defense capabilities and ensure that we have the necessary resources to effectively protect our sovereign rights,” Romualdez said.
He noted that under the proposed 2024 budget, the allocation for the defense sector is P282.7 billion, or 21.6 percent more compared to the P203.4 billion allocation under the 2023 budget.
According to the President’s budget message, this fund will support the Land, Air, and Naval Forces Defense Programs, totaling P188.5 billion, as well as the UN Peacekeeping Mission, among others, to ensure domestic security.
“This allocation demonstrates our dedication to maintaining a strong and credible defense posture, one that sends a clear message that we will not compromise when it comes to safeguarding our national interests,” Romualdez said. “We must remember that a strong defense is not merely a tool for confrontation, but a means to uphold peace, stability, and the rule of law.”
JAPAN DONATION
The Japanese government on Tuesday said it will donate to the PCG 1.1 billion yen to procure state-of-the-art satellite communication systems.
Japanese Ambassador to Manila Koshikawa Kazuhiko yesterday signed the exchange of notes to formalize the agreement with Foreign Affairs Chief Enrique Manalo.
“This 1.1 billion yen grant aid seeks to procure a state-of-the-art satellite data communication system for the Philippine Coast Guard. Once this project is completed, it is expected to improve Maritime Domain Awareness and maritime law enforcement capabilities of the PCG,” the Japanese embassy said.
It added the system will also enhance the PCG’s capability in its operations in the Sulu-Celebes Sea and its surrounding areas, as well as in realizing the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific.”
Kazuhiko said the communication system will equip the PCG’s two 97-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPV) and the 10 44-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRV), all acquired from Japan.
“May this technology be useful, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” the envoy said.
Two of the Japanese-made MRRV figured in the August 5 incident where Chinese Coast Guard ships blockaded and turned its water cannons on the PCG vessels escorting a resupply run to Ayungin Shoal.
At present, the PCG has three OPVs – the French-made 83-meter-long Gabriela Silang class and the Magbanua class — that patrol the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The PCG also operates four 57-meter EDSA class ships acquired from Australia’s Tenix Corporation during the Estrada presidency.
Its air wing is equipped with several obsolete Britten Norman Islander turbo-prop aircraft, a Grand Cessna Caravan and two Airbus EC 645 multi-role response helicopters.
The PCG earlier said it needs at least two dozen OPVs at a minimum to patrol and secure the country’s 200-mile EEZ. — With Ashzel Hachero
