Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the Philippines must hastily recalibrate its military modernization program to keep pace with rapidly evolving security challenges, stressing that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) cannot afford to work on long-term timelines.
In a press briefing on Saturday, Teodoro said the Department of National Defense (DND) will pursue a transformation initiative this year, including a review of the AFP’s modernization goals.
“We cannot work with 15-year horizons. It’s too long and impracticable,” Teodoro said, citing the example of Ukraine, where armed forces are compelled to “retool and re-equip every three months because of artificial intelligence.”
He said the Philippines needs a more flexible and responsive approach to acquisitions, one that allows the AFP to buy and integrate new systems as threats evolve.
“There should not be any horizon. We need to acquire new systems when needed, and we need to have the wherewithal to build infrastructure to accommodate various systems, which is sadly lacking,” he added.
Teodoro also flagged the AFP’s manpower limitations, noting that active-duty troops account for just 0.13 percent of the country’s population, or about 162,000 personnel. “It’s too small for the expanded area that we need with the tempo of operations and with the area we need to cover,” he said.
He also urged a comprehensive study on the proper size of the armed forces and the repurposing of the reserve force to meet current and future security requirements.
The 15-year AFP Modernization Program consists of three phases, known as Horizons.
Horizon 1 took place from 2013 to 2017, while Horizon 2 ran from 2018 to 2022.
Horizon 3, however, which was set for 2023 to 2028, was overhauled to Re-Horizon 3, which was approved in January 2024, with a duration of 10 years.
Horizon 1 resulted in the acquisition of Del Pilar-class frigates, FA-50 light-lift interim fighters, among others.
Horizon 2 has been implemented since 2018 as the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte allotted P300 billion for the acquisition of multiple launch rocket systems, light tanks, armored recovery vehicles, multi-role fighter aircraft, frigates, among others.
The present Re-Horizon 3 prioritizes achieving a self-reliant defense posture program, bringing in more sophisticated equipment such as fighter planes.
