House Deputy Majority Leader Camarines Sur 2nd district Rep. Luigi Villafuerte is crossing his fingers that President Marcos would support this 2026 his twin bills that would boost the modernization efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“President Marcos is spot on in pursuing the continued AFP modernization program amid national security threats like the escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS),” Villafuerte said over the weekend.

“And we hope our commander-in-chief could support the long-term defense build-up by endorsing two pending bills on recommissioning old yet operational helicopters plus other aircraft, and acquiring, and later on building our own, drones for surveillance, reconnaissance, combat and disaster-response, among others,” he added.

The former provincial governor was referring to House Bill (HB) No. 1362 and HB No. 1363. He is hoping tthat the complementary meaaures would gain traction in the chamber ahead of the reopening of sessions on Jan. 26.

HB No. 1362 proposes the establishment of the Philippine Unmanned Aerial System Program (PUASP) and Strategic Defense Technology Transfer Program (SDTTP) for “the acquisition of surveillance, reconnaissance, combat, disaster-response and medical evacuation (medevac) drones, and the establishment of an R&D (research and development) program to enable the Philippines to build its own UAS ecosystem in the long run".

This bill earmarks an initial P10 billion for acquiring and, later on, building the country’s own drones not only for fighting terrorism, insurgency and other crimes, but also for disaster response, environmental protection, and border patrol and search-and-rescue missions.

On the other hand, HB No.1363 proposes the creation by the Department of National Defense (DND) of a Military Air Asset Rehabilitation Program (MAARP) to conduct technical inspection and feasibility analysis of old helicopters and other available military aircraft for possible recommissioning; and to conduct, with the AFP, a full inventory of all decommissioned aircraft in military storage nationwide.

It allocates an initial amount of P5 billion for this recommissioning program, to be sourced from the unprogrammed funds of the national budget or other available funding sources.

Villafuerte raised the twin proposals after President Marcos, during the recent oath-taking ceremony at Malacañang for newly promoted generals and flag officers, vowed that his Administration would prioritize the AFP’s modernization, in support of our military’s long-term defense posture.

“As your President and your Commander-in-Chief, I reaffirm this administration’s commitment to the continued modernization of the Armed Forces,” Marcos said.

Otherwise known as the “National Defense Drone Act,” HB 1362 seeks the establishment of the PUASP to oversee the acquisition of drones, deployment of such unmanned vehicles, inter-agency usage protocols, data security compliance and training of drone operators and technicians.

By way of the PUASP, Villafuerte likewise wants the military to pursue R&D activities with local universities and colleges as well as tech start-ups to spur the local manufacture and maintenance of drones.

Also, HB No.1362 proposes the establishment of the SDTTP, as a complement to the PUASP, to provide tax incentives to the private sector to engage in drone development, as a way to encourage local innovation and reduce long-term costs for this drone acquisition program.

Otherwise known as the "Military Air Asset Rehabilitation and Modernization Act,” HB No.1363 tasks the DND to initiate a Military Air Asset Rehabilitation Program (MAARP) for the purpose of a technical inspection and feasibility analysis of available aircraft for possible recommissioning; as well as conduct, with the AFP, a full inventory of all decommissioned aircraft in military storage nationwide, within 90 days from the effectivity of this Act.

HB No.1363 allocates an initial amount of P5 billion for this recommissioning program, to be sourced from the unprogrammed funds of the national budget or other available funding sources, while subsequent funding shall be included in the annual GAA.

According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the average lifespan of an aircraft is around 25 to 40 years, depending on the kind of aircraft, Villafuerte said.