Aquino orders halt in construction of defense structures in Pag-asa

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III ordered the Defense Department to halt the development of military infrastructure as well as the repair of the airport at the Pag-asa Islands, Defense Sec. Voltaire Gazmin said on Friday.

Responding to queries fielded by Sen. Loren Legarda on how the Philippines is faring in terms of improving its defense capabilities in the disputed islands at the West Philippine Sea, Gazmin said the president has ordered the status quo.

“We got the specific instructions from the president to serve the status quo as stated by the legal opinion of attorney Batino,” the defense secretary said, referring to Defense Usec. Pio Lorenzo Batino who is also the head of the Philippine panel involved in the crafting of Enhanced Development Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States. 

“We do have funds for the improvement of, for example, the Pag-asa airport but this is being held in abeyance because of the case that we have filed. It might affect the case that we have filed,” Gazmin said.

Legarda chaired the Senate finance subcommittee which reviewed the Department of National Defense (DND) and its attached agencies' about P141-billion budget for next year.

“Are we allowed to improve our structures in the territories?” Legarda asked. “Do we have the facilities and is it provided for in the budget?” 

Gazmin explained that the move would boost the Philippines’s moral high ground to pursue its arbitration case against China before the International Tribunal for Law of the Seas over the territorial claim on certain areas at the West Philippine Sea. 

Batino earlier told the Senate subcommittee, which eventually endorsed the DND budget for plenary approval, that the strategy was for the government to exercise maximum restraint in the issues dealing with the West Philippine Sea.

“The DND is mindful that the current tact as proposed by DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) is to exercise maximum restraint so that we can maintain our moral high ground in terms of the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea,” Batino said. 

The president’s directive came amid his continuous and aggressive campaign for support for the Philippines’ territorial claim before the international community. 

Gazmin made the revelation as the DND and its attached agencies defended its proposed P 141.85-billion budget for 2015 before the Senate Finance subcommittee chaired by Legarda. The DND’s budget for 2015 is higher by about P20 billion compared to its 2014 allocations pegged at P 121.3 billion. 

The defense officials, however, did not mention whether the new strategy was meant to re-establish goodwill with China as the Philippines’ push its proposed triple action plan (TAP) to reduce escalating tensions among claimant countries.

The moratorium on construction of outposts in the disputed areas is one of the immediate approach broached by the Philippines under the TAP.

The Philippine Air Force last June revealed that its all systems go for the plans to repair the Rancudo airstrip that will involve two stages such as the dredging of an anchorage area to allow the entry of vessels with construction materials needed, and the actual repair itself. 

Smooth food supply missions to BRP Sierra Madre

During the budget hearing, Gazmin also reported that China seemed to be not aggressive right now in the West Philippine Sea. 

The defense secretary noted that the military is able to send supplies and food rations to soldiers stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre which has been stranded at the Ayungin Shoal. 

The resupply mission conducts two trips to BRP Sierra Madre without so much harassment from the Chinese Maritime Surveillance Vessels. 

Defense officials, however, maintained that the DND and  DFA have remained active in ensuring that the government protects its claims in the disputed waters.

“However, the DND continues to perform mandates as much  it can under these legal constraints, in maintaining awareness in the West Philippine Sea… in order to guide the DFA in the issuance of policies,” Batino added.

Also during the budget hearing, Gazmin admitted that the DND is trying to make to with the current limited budget and resources to improve its defense capabilities.

He revealed also that the Philippines’ defense system gets major boosts from “friendly” forces, although he did not particularly identify them during the budget hearing.

It is no secret that the United States have established alliances with the Philippines through the Visiting Forces Agreement. The Philippines and the United States also recently signed the EDCA.

“Right now, we have a very limited capability of monitoring. But because of our friendly relations with other countries we are provided information,” Gazmin said.

AFP modernization

As this developed, Armed Forces chief Dir. Gen. Gregorio Catapang said it will take a bigger amount of budget before the military can boost further its modernization program for the next six to 12 years.

In the 2015 budget, Congress had allocated P30-billion only out of the initial P85 billion which the AFP has requested to kick off the initial phase of its modernization program. 

“We need radars and then additional ships. We also want the Coast Guard to also help us in going in and around the West Philippine Sea,” Catapang said. 

The AFP modernization program has three “horizons," Catapang said after the budget hearing. 

The first horizon needs about P85 billion which will focus on procurement of ships, while the second horizon will need about P85 billion to 100 billion for the next six years. Another P100 billion to 120 billion is needed to finish the third horizon, which will be the time when the Philippines would get the “minimum credible defense.” 

Comparing the AFP modernization to boxing, Catapang said the first phase would categorize the Philippines under the bantam weight, then middleweight and up to heavyweight  once the government achieves a full modernization program for the military.

Since Congress is ready to give out P 30 billion under the first horizon, Catapang said the least the AFP can do is to continue with the purchase of equipment and navigating capabilities and then adjust amortization to payments.