The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now embarking on a new defense concept that seeks to ensure security in the exploration of natural resources within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.
Teodoro said the new defense concept, which he called the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, would guarantee safety and security for Filipino citizens, Philippine corporations and those authorized by the national government to explore and exploit the country’s natural resources within the Philippine jurisdiction.
“Rather than an inward looking defense concept we are evolving into a defense concept which project our power into our areas where we must, by Constitutional fiat and duty, protect and preserve our resources," said Teodoro during a forum organized by the Manila Overseas Press Club in Makati City on Tuesday night, Jan. 23.
Such a defense concept, according to the Defense chief, will also serve as a foundation building in the long-term protection of Philippine interests and nationals especially in relation to resources and economic activities relating to the oceans and the seas within the country’s jurisdiction or the blue economy.
The threats include security relating to piracy and international criminal elements, on sea routes and Philippine vessels.
“In international trade and commerce, a lot has been said about the blue economy for example. We will have to have the ability to protect Philippine interest in the future, maybe not in my lifetime, but we laid down the building blocks for protecting Philippine interests and Philippine nationals in an increasingly volatile and unpredictable world,” said Teodoro.
“So in order to do this, it is not a simple question of getting new equipment. We have to marshal the resources of making the best of what we have, make sure that acquisitions made are supportable and sustainable,” he added.
But he stressed the necessity of modernization of the AFP in pursuing the goal.
Teodoro said the DND and the AFP are now on what he described as the Rehorizoned Capability Enhancement and Modernization Program, which he disclosed, was already approved by President Marcos.
The program, according to Teodoro, includes an array of capabilities ranging from domain awareness, connectivity, command and control of areas within the Philippine territory, intelligence capabilities and deterrence capabilities.
He said this will be backed by the DND’s request to the Congress for more budget to ensure adequate maintenance and operating funds to use, train and to have a greater exposure and mobility in areas where the military need to have significant presence—including the West Philippine Sea.
This is important, he said, in this time in the West Philippine Sea “where we cannot tolerate violations of our territorial integrity by anyone and far enough that is the standing order of the president in so far as we are concerned.”