Senate Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito is advocating for the restoration of the P10-billion cut from the Department of National Defense (DND) budget, which is intended to fund the AFP Modernization Program.
During the deliberations on the DND’s proposed 2025 budget, Ejercito emphasized that the budget cut undermines the intent of the Revised AFP Modernization Act.
This act mandates an annual minimum appropriation of P75 billion in the General Appropriations Act to support the modernization needs of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
“It has been almost a decade since we passed the Revised AFP Modernization Law, yet we have not yet allocated the P75 billion mandated by the law for the modernization of our Armed Forces,” he stated.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who sponsors the DND budget, noted that the reduction in AFP Modernization Funds would impact seven projects. These projects include cyber systems, forward-support equipment, aviation-engineering equipment, additional aircraft, joint tactical combat vehicles, and radar-basing support systems.
Ejercito highlighted that without consistent investments, the AFP would struggle to achieve Horizon 3 of the modernization program, a phase aimed at establishing a credible defense posture capable of territorial defense.
“This investment in our national security is an investment in our future, our sovereignty, and, most importantly, in our men and women in uniform,” he remarked.
“We need to catch up and properly position our external defense, especially given the precarious situation in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.
Ejercito also expressed concerns regarding where newly acquired naval vessels would be stationed, particularly questioning the suitability of the AFP’s current rented facility.
“I was shocked to learn that the AFP is renting a location at P1 billion per year, but the site lacks adequate support for our naval fleet,” he said.
He suggested that Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), a former naval base, could be a more viable alternative due to its existing infrastructure.
As the budget sponsor for SBMA’s 2025 budget, Ejercito pledged to facilitate discussions between SBMA and the AFP, describing the potential use of Subic as a “win-win” solution for all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros sought assurance that the modernization program would not lag behind other countries, particularly concerning advancements in drone warfare.
“We currently live in a very volatile period of history with various conflicts around the globe boiling hot and some simmering just under the surface. While we wish it was otherwise, we can at least try to learn as much as we can from them. The current conflicts seem to underline the importance of drones, including naval drones and anti-drone warfare, guided emissions, and air defense systems,” she said.
