Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
More budget allocation for naval, air assets sought in AFP modernization
Philippines
National
More budget allocation for naval, air assets sought in AFP modernization
More budget allocation for naval, air assets sought in AFP modernization
Published Jul 09, 2023 06:22 am
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Updated Jul 09, 2023 06:22 am
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will acquire more naval and air assets under the current phase of its modernization program amid a shift in terms of priorities in defending the country’s interests in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
*(File photo: MANILA BULLETIN)
* Col. Medel Aguilar, AFP spokesperson, said it is only reasonable to invest in enhancing the military’s naval and aerial capabilities since the Philippines is a maritime country. “We are a maritime country and therefore the first line of defense will be our Navy and the Air Force so we understand if there will be more allocations that will be given to the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force since we have to defend our country from the outside,” Aguilar said in a television interview over ANC on Saturday, July 8. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the modernization program – which was stalled by budget cuts due to the Covid-19 pandemic, should push through and catch up now that the economy has bounced back. This, as the AFP shifts its attention to external defense from internal security operations amid emerging security threats in the Indo-Pacific region. “It’s already the President who is already telling us and, therefore, we should take cue from it. On the part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, we are ready with the list or the plan [on] what to acquire so that we will be able to develop our capabilities,” Aguilar shared. Last month, Marcos approved the P5.768 trillion National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2024 and the AFP is hoping that it would get enough funding to pursue the modernization program. The AFP has already submitted to Marcos a “wish list” of the assets and equipment that it intends to acquire under the third and final “horizon” of the modernization program, which seeks to enhance the capabilities of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The third horizon will run from 2023 to 2028, while 54 projects out of the total 150 modernization programs (36 percent) were already completed in the first two horizons. Those planned to be procured under the third horizon are multirole aircraft, radars, frigates, missile systems and rescue helicopters reportedly worth P500 billion. As for the Philippine Army, Aguilar said among the priorities are the US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the Indian BrahMos cruise missiles.Military assistance
Aside from funding from the government, Aguilar bared that the AFP is also getting military assistance from allied countries to fast track the implementation of the defense capability upgrade. “First, I think there is an alignment of interest when it comes to the protection of the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Second of course, there will be trainings that will be conducted, exercises with the regional partners and some countries that are outside ASEAN. Third of course, there will be assistance in the form equipment. That will be appreciated,” he said. Among the countries who have pledged assistance or are already assisting the AFP in its modernization program include the United States, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, Italy, and the European Union among others. “We are setting the best effort to maximize whatever is given to us to accomplish what we want to achieve for the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” Aguilar said.