The Senate has reinstated the original P50 billion funding for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, which aims to enhance the country’s sovereignty.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa expressed his gratitude to Senator Grace Poe, who chairs the Committee on Finance, for restoring the National Expenditure Program level of the Revised AFP Modernization Program at ₱50 billion.
He emphasized that this funding not only supports the modernization of the military but also represents a commitment to the freedom and sovereignty of the nation.
“I am certain that this additional funding for our armed forces will not only provide them with new and technologically advanced military equipment but, more importantly, boost their morale and confidence. You have made them feel that they are not alone in defending our motherland,” he stated.
The Senate approved House Bill No. 10800, or the 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), on its third and final reading on Tuesday.
Dela Rosa was the first to disclose that the House of Representatives had proposed to reduce the funding for the AFP Modernization Program from P50 billion in the National Expenditures Program (NEP) to P40 billion in their version of the GAB.
He criticized this decision, stating that reducing the budget by P10 billion contradicts the statements of politicians who claim to support the AFP, especially when the military is defending the country’s territories, particularly in the West Philippine Sea.
As a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Dela Rosa noted that the budget cut would affect the morale of the soldiers.
Dela Rosa is among the senators scheduled to participate in the bicameral conference committee meeting on the 2025 GAB, which is set for November 28 to November 30.
Lawmakers from both houses of Congress will convene during this meeting to reconcile the differing provisions of the Senate and House versions of the budget bill.
