Defense chief says limited budget hampering AFP modernization

MANILA, Philippines - Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. believes that the P5 billion allotted yearly for modernizing the Armed Forces is not enough to buy fighter planes and attack helicopters for the nation’s defense.

Speaking to The STAR, Teodoro said a top-of-the-line attack helicopter costs around $83 million, which is already about P3.7 billion in the current exchange rate.

“The modernization plan of the AFP is quite slow admittedly because of the fact that we are only setting aside P5 billion a year which is in defense terms nothing,” he said.

Teodoro said the AFP needs helicopters and cargo planes, especially since the Air Force only has one operational C-130 cargo plane after the other one crashed off Davao City last year.

Another C-130 is expected back on flight in about two months after undergoing rehabilitation, Teodoro said.

In the first years of its modernization program, the AFP acquired machine guns, communications equipment and military vehicles.

Teodoro’s predecessor, Avelino Cruz faced the same problem.

Cruz had asked the government for funds to purchase “mission essential” equipment to enable the military to perform its functions effectively, particularly in Mindanao.

Cruz said when he was defense secretary, it was estimated that the AFP needed about 5,000 trucks, some medium lift vessels for the Navy, and about 12,000 handheld radios.

In 2007, the military acquired 600 new troop carriers and more than 2,000 units of squad automatic weapons, he added.

Cruz said that the government must ensure that P10 billion yearly for the AFP’s Capability Upgrade Program must be spent for military vehicles, weapons and communication equipment for troops in the frontlines.

What is needed is the actual release of funds for the project to raise the material readiness level of the military from a low of 45 percent to 70 percent, he added.

These include night-fighting equipment, squad automatic weapons, 6,000 units of which are expected to be delivered within six months, and bullet proof vests to improve the fighting capability of troops, and to minimize casualties in the field. – James Mananghaya