A USAF F-16C flying over the desert in Iraq, 2008 (Wikipedia)

House Assistant Majority Leader Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre has highlighted the broader implications of strengthening the country’s military assets through the help of its allies.

This, as Acidre welcomed the Philippines’ plan to acquire 20 brand new F-16 fighter jets from its long-time Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) partner, the United States (US).

The US State Department recently approved the potential sale of 20 F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines--a deal estimated to reach $5.58 billion.

This move aligns with the Philippines’ efforts to modernize its air force and improve interoperability with allied nations.

“Alam mo malaking bagay po sa overall security natin bilang isang bansa, hindi lang ho sa politika, hindi lang ho sa seguridad, maging sa ating ekonomiya na masigurado na kung ano mang pagbabanta ay kaya nating tumindig at meron tayong kahit lang naman na ‘yung defense capability,” said Acidre.

(You know, overall security as a nation is a big deal—not just in politics and security, but also in our economy. It’s important to ensure that we can stand against any threats and that we at least have the necessary defense capability.)

The solon from Visayas underscored the significance of such acquisitions in safeguarding national territory and ensuring the safety of Filipino citizens:

“Para masigurado natin lalo na ang ating teritoryo at lalo na ang kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan (This will especially ensure our territory and the safety of our countrymen)

The Philippine Department of National Defense (DND) has indicated plans to seek a long-term loan from the US to finance this acquisition, reflecting the administration’s commitment to enhancing defense capabilities despite budgetary constraints.

Acidre also pointed out the multi-faceted role of the armed forces, extending beyond traditional defense.

“Hindi po ito kakaiba at alam naman ho natin… hindi sa usaping seguridad kahit sa usapin ng disaster response ay malaki po ang role ng ating Sandatahang Lakas (This is nothing strange and we all know that...the Armed Forces play a huge role not only on the issue of security but also on disaster response),” he said.

“Malaki po ang pwedeng maitulong ng ganito pong mga pagbabago o mga modernization efforts sa ating Armed Forces (This development would be a big boon to the modernization efforts of our Armed Forces),” the party-list solon further said.