MANILA, Philippines - The Department of National Defense (DND) is looking for additional P10-billion supplemental budget for the modernization of the Armed Forces. This is to fill in the amount that was not provided to the AFP modernization program for this year.
Fernando Manalo Defense Undersecretary, said to The STAR that DND needs P20 billion for this year but, only P10 billion was funded to the General Appropriations. An additional budget is on top of the annual national budget passed by Congress.
In 2012, President Aquino signed a contract allocating P75 billion worth of fund for the first five years of the military’s modernization program alone. The next year budget offered by Malacañang required P20 billion for the Armed Forces Modernization Program.
The stated amount will be given and managed by the defense secretary and shall be completely used to fund the modernization projects itself.
The allotment of the funds will only be released once the DND submits to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the recommendation of the bids and awards committees for the award of agreements. As soon as the funds become available, a notice of award will be issued to a winning bidder.
The DND is obliged to submit to the budget department, the House of Representatives appropriations committee and the Senate finance committee quarterly reports on carrying out of the program.
So far, the administration has completed 37 military upgrade project amounting P9.2 billion. But there are still expected modernization equipment to be acquired this year.Fourteen projects worth P6.2 billion are slated for accomplishment before the year ends.
(ABS CBN News)
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