Philippines - Over P82 B poured in for upgrade of AFP; P50 B released under Noy

The government has released more than P82 billion to upgrade the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) since 1996. However, it is still considered one of the weakest in the region, a condition that has been blamed on limited resources, changing priorities of administrations and stalled implementation of the modernization program.

Data obtained by The STAR showed that a total of P82.48 billion has been disbursed to the program, which started when Republic Act No. 7898 took effect in 1995.The law gave the AFP the opportunity to modernize in 15 years with a budget of P331.62 billion, of which only P63.39 billion was actually released.The failure of RA 7898 to attain its objectives prompted Congress to pass another law, RA 10349 which President Aquino signed in 2012 to extend the AFP modernization program.

Aquino allotted P75 billion for AFP modernization from 2013 to 2017 at P15 billion per year. A total of P19.098 billion has been released so far.The P63.38 billion disbursed under the old law and the P19.098 billion released under the new law made up the P82.48-billion fund poured in for the AFP Modernization Program.

Funding sources

The funds are sourced from the national budget (P55.99 billion), remittances from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (P12.96 billion), Malampaya Fund (P1 billion) and Department of Energy (P6.59 billion).Most of the funds or P50.75 billion were released under the Aquino administration. Fund releases under the Arroyo regime totaled P26.22 billion and under Estrada, P5.53 billion.

A total of 100 projects have been completed under RA 7898, although 55 of these were done only during Aquino’s time.The Army got 40 projects worth P13.69 billion, the Air Force had 12 projects costing P5.2 billion while the Navy had 29 projects worth P4.07 billion.Although RA 7898 lapsed in 2010, some of its projects are still uncompleted, with 46, costing P25.07 billion, still in its implementation or procurement phase.The P19.08-billion fund released under the new modernization law was used to pay for assets that can be used for territorial defense, including the P4.94 billion for the partial payment of 12 lead-in fighter trainer jets from South Korea. The jet acquisition project costs P18.9 billion and at least P9.35 billion was channeled for the partial payment of the remaining multi-year obligation authority balances.

The government also released P4.8 billion for the full payment of eight Bell 412EP combat helicopters to be acquired from Canada.A total of 34 projects, worth P66.69 billion, have yet to receive funds even if they are already in the procurement phase, including: three air surveillance radars (P2.68 billion), six close air support aircraft (P4.97 billion), two long range patrol aircraft (P5.98 billion), two anti-submarine warfare capable helicopters (P5.4 billion), two frigates (P18 billion) and 114 US excess defense armored personnel carrier (P67.5 million).

Aquino still has to sign on 28 projects, including naval and air assets to boost patrols in the West Philippine Sea. The projects cost more than P60 billion.Despite the issues, security officials are confident the modernization program will remain on track and the country able to achieve its minimum credible defense goal.

Fourth Star

Meanwhile, AFP chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri yesterday got his fourth star, two weeks after he assumed leadership of the 125,000-strong military.The donning of ranks formalized Iriberri’s promotion. It was held yesterday morning at the Department of National Defense building in Camp Aguinaldo with Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Iriberri’s wife Agnes pinning the fourth star on the military chief’s shoulders.“I know the magnitude of the responsibility of this rank, and I would like to share this rank with all the soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines, especially those in the field. This rank is for them,” Iriberri said, promising to “give nothing but the best service” to country and people.

The promotion of military officers with the rank of colonel or higher has to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments (CA), a congressional body composed of 13 senators and 12 House members.The military is optimistic that Iriberri would be confirmed by the CA despite the complaint for graft filed against him before the ombudsman and the accusations of human rights violations.Armed Forces public affairs chief Noel Detoyato said the cases cannot hamper the chief’s confirmation as the complaints are mere allegations that have yet to be proven by the accusers.