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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider AFP may not have funds to buy new equipment for next 2-3 years, DND tells solons

AFP may not have funds to buy new equipment for next 2-3 years, DND tells solons

Published Sep 16, 2022 08:27 am

Although the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) modernization program is funded next year, the military practically won't be able to purchase any new equipment for its troops.

(File photo/ Mark Balmores/ MANILA BULLETIN)

During the House Committee on Appropriations' consideration of the Department of National Defense's (DND) proposed budget for 2023 on Thursday, Sept. 15, it was learned that the AFP's P40-billion allocation for modernization was earmarked for the payment of its mutli-year obligations.

In other words, the money will be used to pay off the contracts for earlier purchases made by the agency.

"Yung P40-billion na modernization budget namin for 2023 ay pambayad po lamang sa ating mga multi-year obligations (Our P40-billion modernization budget for 2023 will be used to pay our multi-year obligations)," DND Officer-in-Charge and Senior Undersecretary Jose Faustino Jr. told the appropriations panel during their budget briefing.

But when would the DND have actual cold cash to buy new equipment, including weapons? Faustino said that might not happen for the next two to three years.

"Yung nakalinya na po dito yung ating babayaran sa susunod na taon and kung mananatili po itong trend na ito, sa aming pag-aaral ay sa susunod na dalawa hanggang tatlong taon ay wala po tayong mabibili na bagong kagamitan (We've lined up what we need to pay for next and if this trend continues, based on our study we won't be able to purchase new equipment for the next two to three years)," he explained.

The Philippines faces both external and internal threats, with the latter comprising mostly of insurgency and terrorism.

Meanwhile, some P19 billion has been set aside for the Philippine Navy's own modernization program. The funds will be used to pay for gun boats, corvettes (small warships), anti-ship missile system, and off-shore patrol vessels

Despite this, Philippine Navy Officer-in-Charge Cesar Bernard Valencia said that these purchases won't be enough to cover the entire shoreline and territory waters of the country.

“Considering the vast waters that we have, it ay not be enough to fully guard out entire archipelago...We are trying to guard as much water we have," Valencia told the congressmen.

The DND's entire proposed outlay for 2023 is P310 billion.

Related Tags

AFP DND philippine navy
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