By Rio N. Araja and Macon Ramos-Araneta
The House of Representatives has increased this year’s budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program by P6 billion, raising the total new appropriations to P45 billion, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Sunday.
“In all, there’s P45 billion for the AFPMP in the 2023 national budget– P27.5 billion in programmed appropriations plus P17.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations,” he said.
“The P45 billion is P6 billion higher than the P39 billion in programmed and unprogrammed appropriations for the AFPMP in 2022,” he added.
The Department of Budget and Management originally sought only P40 billion in programmed and unprogrammed appropriations for the AFPMP in 2023.
“We are confident the government will find the money needed to finance this year’s unprogrammed appropriations for the AFPMP,” Pimentel said.
Programmed appropriations have ready funding sources, whereas unprogrammed ones provide standby authority for the Department of National Defense to sign additional contracts for modernization projects, depending on available government funds, including borrowed money.
“We are forcefully supporting the AFPMP not only because the law requires us to, but also to counteract the persistent swarming of Chinese vessels around Pag-asa Island,” Pimentel said, referring to the largest Philippine-occupied landmass at the northeastern section of the disputed Spratly archipelago.
Also on Sunday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said it is looking forward to a harmonious working relationship with new National Security Adviser Eduardo Año.
In a statement on Sunday, DND Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said hebelieves Año, who replaces Clarita Carlos in that position, will provide informed guidance to address various security concerns.
“Secretary Año will undoubtedly render his decisive, informed, and pragmatic guidance. The former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief-of-staff and Secretary of the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) has also been a stalwart advocate of ourwhole-of-nation approach on national security, especially in addressing the armed conflict brought by insurgency and terrorism,” Galvez said.
Galvez and Año took their oaths of office before President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Both were part of the Cabinet during the Duterte administration, with Galvez also retaining his post as Presidential Peace Adviser.
“We also thank former NSA Secretary Clarita Carlos for her service in the Executive Branch and wish her the best in her new role at the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department of the House of Representatives,” Galvez added.
The 61-year-old Año was a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1983. Galvez, 60, graduated two years later.
Año was the military chief during the Marawi siege in 2017 while Galvez was one of the ground commanders and became AFP head himself the following year.
Galvez was also chief implementer of the COVID-19 response in the previous administration and was at the forefront of negotiations to secure vaccines.
Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada said a Senate panel this week will thoroughly scrutinize proposed bills seeking to remove the fixed term for some military officials.
Estrada, chairperson of the Senate committee on national defense and security, peace, unification, and reconciliation, said the committee will tackle proposals to amend RA 11709, which became a law during the Duterte administration.
Estrada pointed out the Senate measures proposing amendments to the law were filed last month, long before reports on alleged rumblings within the AFP surfaced supposedly due to a leadership shake-up.
“I would like to disabuse the mind of the public that this is being taken up to quell any destabilization plot or address supposed discord within the military,” he said.
“The Senate is duty-bound to take up the measure for immediate consideration,” he said, since the President had certified it as urgent.
On Dec. 6, 2022, Estrada filed Senate Bill No. 1601 which seeks to amend RA 11709 or the law granting a three-year fixed term for key AFP officials, including the chief of staff.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri filed a similar measure on Dec. 7, 2022.
Estrada is also due to hold hearings on bills proposing the establishment of the Philippine Air Force Academy (PAFA).
Estrada and Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. have filed their respective bills on the proposed PAFA, an educational institution for instruction and preparation for military service of the Philippine Air Force cadets.
