MANILA, Philippines – Inihayag ng Department of National Defense (DND) sa Senado na lubhang apektado ang pitong defense projects sa ibinawas na P10 billion sa modernization fund ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Senador Ronald Dela Rosa, pangunahing isponsor ng budget ng DND, na ilan sa naapektuhang proyekto ang cyber systems at equipment-related projects.
“Mr. President, not to be very much specific, these are projects concerning cyber systems and projects for forward support equipment and aviation engineering equipment, additional aircraft, joint tactical combat vehicle, aircraft, joint tactical combat vehicles, and radar-based support systems,” aniya.
Nauna nang hinihiling ni Dela Rosa sa Senado na ibalik ang P10 bilyong binawas ng House of Representatives sa orihinal na P50 billion modernization fund ng DND para sa 2025.
Ayon kay Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito na nagkakaroon ng pagkakaantala sa modernisasyon ng military.
“Just for the record, Mr. President, as of October 2024, there are still 17 remaining projects under Horizon 1. There are 75 projects under Horizon 2 and 37 projects are under Horizon 3. So kung mababawasan pa tayo ng 10 billion, another 7 would be added,” giit ni Ejercito.
Kahit nagbawas sa badyet, sinabi ni Dela rosa na malapit nang mataposa ng Horizon 1.
“For Horizon 1, we are already 99% complete. So, it is composed of 53 projects and it can be 100%. Itong remaining 1% will be completed by 2026. And for Horizon 2, we are already 23% complete. And it will be 56% complete by 2029. And it is composed of 98 projects,” ayon kay Dela Rosa.
Medyo mas marami kasi ito. Kaya ang completion rate is medyo bagal but still we expect by 2029 magiging 56% rito,” dagdag ng senador.
“And for Horizon 3, right now, ang timeline na pag-uusapan natin nasa Horizon 3 na tayo because Horizon 3 is 2023 to 2027 but still we are zero completion rate. Because this year lang na-approve yung Horizon 3, this year lang. So, wala pa tayong nagawa,” paliwanag ni Dela Rosa.
Aniya, pangtanggulan ang proyekto sa Horizon 2 sa West Philippine Sea.
Sa puntong ito, tumayo si Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros upang himukin ang kasamahan na bigyan ng prayoridad ang modernization program.
“Well, salamat sa importanteng input na yan, good sponsor. Kung ang Horizon 2 pala ay nakatutok sa West Philippine Sea, and yet, gaya ng nasabi ng Good Sponsor kanina, doon yung pinakamaraming delayed pa na proyekto, I think that should awaken a greater sense of urgency sa atin dito sa buong Kongreso,” ani Hontiveros.
“If we are asking na maback-up-an talaga yung ating political and diplomatic moves ng self-reliant defense posture, ng credible defense posture, kailangan talaga mag-catch up, mag-keep an eye on tayo sa Senado at ang House, mag-catch up talaga sa Horizon 2 para sa West Philippine Sea objectives natin,” giit pa ni Hontiveros.
Sinabi pa ni Dela Rosa na sakaling makumpleto ang Horizon 2, maaari nang mag-pokus ang militar sa depensa sa buong bansa.
“[Kapag] mag-Horizon 3 na tayo, hindi na lang ‘yung West Philippine Sea ang tutukan sa Horizon 3 kundi total defense concept na. ‘Yung pati yung Eastern Seaboard natin at saka yung ating Southern Southern Backdoor… Southern Backdoor kasama na diyan sa Horizon 3,” paliwanag niya.
Dahil dito, itinanong ni Hontiveros kung paano magagamit ng bansa ang alyansang pandaigdgiang ng Pilipinas sa depensa sa pagsasabing “Ukraine was able to build up its capability by entering into agreements with sympathetic nations. Tayo po, good sponsor, paano natin tinitake advantage of ‘yung supportang na na-develop natin internationally, Mr. President?”
“So we are now in the process of making arrangements with the US. We are going to sign a general security of military information agreement which will allow us access to higher capability and real-time information. And with this, it will open the doors for us accessing similar capabilities of sympathetic countries,” ayon kay Dela Rosa.
Samantala, inihayag ng DND na plano ng ahensiya na gawin naval base ng Philippine Navy ang malaking bahagi ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority/
“They are awaiting the signature of the president for that presidential proclamation, making a portion of SBMA as their naval base,” ayon kay Dela Rosa. Ernie Reyes
