The President is damn serious in modernizing the country’s
armed forces.
Just as the news came out the President has approved the resolution for the
pay hike of the military and its uniformed personnel (Joint Resolution No. 1 covering all military
and uniformed personnel under the Department of Defense (DND), Department of
Interior and Local Government (DILG, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and National
Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA).
The government has made concrete actions to buy the much
needed military hardware to make the AFP a modern one.
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| The Filipino soldier in action ( photo credit to owner) |
The government has set aside for the year 2018 some 25
billion for the modernization program of the AFP, some of the big tickets are
the purchase of brand new attack helicopters, infantry tanks and other essential
military hardwares and equipments.
‘The
acquisition of new military hardware was long overdue for the country’s
national security” said Maj. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., AFP deputy chief of
staff for plans and programs.
For several years now since the enactment of the AFP
Modernization Act in 1995, the AFP modernization has been moving so slow
because of just like any office in the government wanting to upgrade its
capability the main culprit is- budgetary constraints.
Major Gen Padilla told the government operated Philippine News
Agency (PNA) that the amount of 25 Billion was allocated in the 2018 General
Appropriations Act ( GAA).
This he said only shows that the President is making it as
one of his priorities the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines
during his six year term.
The modernization has long been considered as long time
overdue.
Padilla also assured the public that all transactions
or dealings in the acquisition of new military equipment would be above board.
He said the President was keen on the
modernization program so that the Philippines would earn the respect of other
nations. *
At the same time, he said Defense Secretary Delfin
Lorenzana and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Rey Leonardo Guerrero gave their full
support to the military’s modernization program.*
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