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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH's plan to acquire submarine warship justified; Solon explains why 

PH's plan to acquire submarine warship justified; Solon explains why 

Published Feb 4, 2024 10:34 am

At A Glance

  • Sunday, Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel says he welcomes President Marcos' approval of the third phase of the military's modernization plan, which includes the procurement of the country's first submarine warship. 

FB_IMG_1707042597371.jpgSurigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Facebook)

A former chairman of the House Committee on Strategic Intelligence believes it's about time that the Philippines acquires its own submarine warship.

In a statement Sunday, Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel says he welcomes President Marcos' approval of the third phase of the military’s modernization plan, which includes the procurement of the country’s first submarine warship.

“We have to build up the capability of our armed forces to conduct naval warfare using a combination of surface ships, submarines, and aircraft, to fully secure the integrity of the national territory,” Pimentel said in a statement on Sunday, Feb. 4

“As an archipelagic state, we are most vulnerable to potential foreign incursions by sea, and in the future, we are counting on submarine patrol operations to effectively deter such external threats,” he noted.

Pimentel is proponent of a bill that seeks to put up naval forward operating bases that would protect the West Philippine Sea’s (WPS) gas and oil reserves. He said such reserves "are absolutely needed to assure the country’s long-term energy security".

The National Unity Party (NUP) stalwart had also penned a bill that seeks to develop the 37.2-hectare Pag-asa Island--the largest Philippine-occupied landmass at the northeastern section of the disputed Spratly archipelago--as a recreational fishing tourism destination.

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad earlier said Malacañang has already approved the acquisition of “more than one” submarine as part of the next phase of the multi-year Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (AFPMP).

Pimentel said the AFPMP has P50 billion in programmed and unprogrammed appropriations in the 2024 national budget.

“The new appropriations will be used exclusively to support the funding requirements for the modernization projects of the military,” said the veteran solon from Mindanao

Meanwhile, Pimentel expects the Department of National Defense “to give sufficient consideration” to Indonesia’s offer to sell anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft to the Philippines.

“Offhand, the Philippine Navy could use the aircraft to defend against possible submarine attacks,” Pimentel said.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo had offered to sell the Indonesian-made ASW aircraft to the Philippines during his bilateral meeting with Marcos in Malacañang in January.

Related Tags

Johnny Pimentel submarine warship west philippine sea
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