Philippines Boosts Defence Spending for the Horizon 2 of the AFP Modernization Program

12 Juni 2018

Horizon 2 AFP Modernization (image : pdff)

Philippines boosts spending for second phase of military modernisation

The Philippine government has reportedly allocated PHP289 billion (USD5.46 billion) to procurement during the second modernisation phase of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which runs from 2018 to 2023.

The figure, revealed by AFP officials in media reports on 9 June, represents a major increase over the PHP90 billion allocated for AFP procurement in the 2013–17 first phase.

Under the second stage of modernisation – known as horizon two – about PHP77 billion will be allocated to the Philippine Navy (PN), with this figure confirmed in a speech by President Rodrigo Duterte in May. The Philippine Army (PA) and Philippine Air Force (PAF) will share the remaining PHP212 billion. (Jane's)

Opposition solon bats for bigger budget for AFP modernization

MAGDALO partylist Rep. Gary Alejano is batting for a bigger budget for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), citing the presence of internal and external threats.

He proposed that the two percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)- roughly P350 billion– should be allocated for defense spending annually.

“Kailangang lakihan ho natin kasi malaki ang pangangailangan natin, externally and internally. (We need to spend more because our (security) needs are getting bigger, externally and internally), ” he said.

He said P350 billion should be allocated every year for the AFP modernization program to achieve “credible defense.”

“We are at the mercy of those who have the intention of violating our rights, our sovereignty…which is what’s happening right now,” Alejano said, referring to China’s supposed aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

He maintained that the Duterte administration ordered the AFP to stop patrolling the West Philippine Sea.

He said he is “not making up stories and it is my principle and policy not to say something without basis.”

Based on the information he received, there was an instruction to stop patrolling in the Scarborough Shoal and West Philippine Sea because it might offend China.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenza and AFP spokesperson Colonel Edgard Arevalo said there was no such order.

“They can always say we have not received that information or we have not received that instruction. That’s all. Pero kung sasabihing koryente yan at gumagawa lamang ako ng kwento, i think that is already beyond their mandate,” Alejano said.

“I am a legislator. I know that. I can ask them in the budget hearing, I can ask them in a committee hearing nang diretsahan. I am not making up stories. In fact I support the Armed forces. Hindi ako kalaban ng Armed Forces,” he said. (Manila Bulletin)