Credible defense posture within Noy's term -Gazmin

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will attain a minimum credible defense posture within the term of President Aquino, which will end in 2016, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said.

In an interview with Philstar.com, Gazmin said that efforts to modernize the military have taken great strides the past years with heavier spending on procurement of assets.

"Kitang kita naman. Maraming nangyari na mula noon hanggang ngayon, napakarami nang nagawa," Gazmin said Monday after Aquino's State of the Nation Address in Batasan.

"By the time matapos ang presidente, maa-attain natin ang minimum defense posture. By his term ends, 2016," he added.

The international community has urged the Philippines to build the defense capabilities enough to effectively respond to border threats amid maritime dispute over the South China Sea with China and disaster situations.

The Armed Forces' internal peace and security plan states that "territorial defense is an inherently platform and resource-intensive activity, which entails substantive costs."

Justin Goldman, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said that besides physical upgrades, the Philippine government should also address bureaucratic friction between the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy.

"While [the government's Coast Watch South] effort highlighted the lead role of the Philippine Navy, the Navy remained resentful towards the PCG because although the latter is smaller, it is better funded," Goldman said in a Banyan Analytics brief.

The armed forces also begun its pivot from internal security concerns such as the crisis sparked by rebels in Mindanao to external defense buildup, especially in the maritime domain.

Goldman said that the shift contributes to attaining a credible posture but it must require "sustained investment and political will."

"Certainly the country must address shortcomings in its ability for humanitarian response to disasters, but the Aquino Administration’s effort to establish minimum credible defense in contested waters must endure," Goldman added.

In his SONA, Aquino cited developments in security the past year, in acquiring eight Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters, three AgustaWestland-109 helicopters and Philippine-made landing craft utility ship BRP Tagbanua.

The country also placed into service two refurbished Navy cutters and four UH-1 helicopters, while Naval Forces West's command center in Palawan was completed.

Aquino said the Department of National Defense targets to acquire 8 Bell combat utility helicopters, 10 more Power choppers, two light-lift and  three medium-lift aircrafts and a radar system in the following years.

Two of the 12 FA-50 lead-in fighter trainer jets, meanwhile, are set to be delivered in 2015.

Also read: PNoy: P1.2-B saved from assault rifles' procurement