Senate panel seeks higher AFP modernization fund for 2025 amid WPS issue

A Senate subcommittee on finance vowed Tuesday to push for a higher budget for the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for 2025 in light of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue. 

 “It’s a tall order but we will try at least from the Senate’s side to increase the defense spending,” Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said as he presided the budget hearing. 

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said his agency originally proposed P245 billion for the AFP modernization to support the transition to territorial defense and the comprehensive archipelagic defense concept.

However, he said, only P75 billion was approved under the National Expenditure Program.

Due to this, Senator JV Ejercito expressed concern over the budget cuts on the military’s modernization. 

“Para sa akin kung priority program dapat nasa line item and because of the precarious situation on the WPS, all the more that we have to prioritize and give importance to the AFP modernization program,” Ejercito said. 

To increase the budget, Dela Rosa asked the Department of National Defense (DND) to provide the Senate panel with a “wish list” of priority projects. 

Dela Rosa said they would try to talk to their counterparts in the House of Representatives and convince them to consider making adjustments to the DND’s budget.

The Senate subcommittee approved the submission of the proposed P258.16 billion budget of DND for plenary deliberation.—AOL, GMA Integrated News