Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday, July 31 welcomed the United States government’s groundbreaking decision to allocate an additional $500-million in military financing to the Philippines.

Escudero said this substantial investment aimed at modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) marks a historic step in strengthening the country’s defense capabilities.

“This is indeed a first! I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to the United States for this unprecedented assistance to and investment in the AFP, which we definitely need and have been needing,” Escudero said.

“This shows that we (the U.S. and the Philippines) are indeed friends and, more importantly, equal partners in maintaining peace, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based approach to differences and disagreements,” he noted.

It was U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III who announced the provision during a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. in Manila.

Blinken hailed the $500-million allocation as a major boost to security collaboration, while Austin called the investment a bold step towards modernizing the country’s defense agencies but also reflects the strong support of the Biden administration, US Congress and the American people to Filipinos.

At the same time, the Senate chief dismissed concerns that the funding might provoke tensions with China over the West Philippine Sea.

“I do not think this will provoke or agitate China because strengthening one’s own military, like them and most countries, in order to keep the peace is the right and obligation of every country,” he said.

"As I stated in my remarks at the opening of the Senate, we should, with the help of our friends, allies, and partners, build and strengthen our military not to ignite conflict but to secure the peace,” Escudero pointed out.