Some AFP modernization projects to push through, spox says

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday that some projects under the modernization program will continue after the United States exempted the $336-million fund from its foreign aid freeze.

“This is a welcome development on our part and we are glad to continue,” AFP public affairs office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad told reporters at a press briefing.

“On the development of its particular use, we leave it to our top leadership on the particular acquisition and development of [Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement] sites and other programs,” he added.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea (WPS) Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said that higher headquarters already mapped out particular programs for this year and the next years.

These programs cover sea, air, land activities as well as support systems and cyber capabilities.

“The unfreezing of the aid to the Philippines by the US government is a very much welcome development. This has been planned in advance,” the Navy official said.

“With this unfreezing of the support by the US government, it only means that our programs that have been initially planned out will push through. This will include activities on sea, air, and land, and even our support systems, cyber, and other areas,” he added.

On Monday, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Trump administration has exempted the $336-million assistance for the modernization of Philippine security forces from its foreign aid freeze.

According to Romualdez, the amount is part of $500 million foreign military financing (FMF) that was approved by the US Congress last year under the Biden administration. 

Washington’s assistance is crucial to Manila’s efforts to modernize its armed forces as it seeks to strengthen its maritime capability amid an increasingly aggressive China, which has repeatedly harassed and threatened Philippine vessels and aircraft in the WPS. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News