AFP modernization, nakatanggap ng pinakamalaking pondo sa ilalim ng PNoy admin — opisyal

Nakatanggap ang Armed Forces of the Philippines ng pinakamalaking pondo para sa modernization at Capability Upgrade Program nito sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Benigno Aquino III, ayon sa isang opisyal ng militar noong Martes. "During the first two years of President Aquino, the military has received P16.8 billion from various sources, including remittances from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, General Appropriations, and Malampaya funds," pahayag ni AFP spokesperson Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos sa panayang ng GMA News Online. "We are grateful of the President's unprecedented support," dagdag pa niya. Ayon kay Burgos, nakatanggap lamang ng kabuuang P34 bilyon ang modernization program sa loob ng 15 taon, matapos magpalit ng tatlong administrasyon. Nakapagpatupad na ang AFP ng 43 "modernization and capability upgrade projects" na pinondohan ng P4.7 bilyon. Sa mga ito, 19 na ang natapos. Nakatanggap ang Philippine Army ng 1,621 Night Fighting System at 6 APC M113, habang nakakuha naman ang Philippine Air Force (PAF) ng 18 Basic Trainer Aircraft, apat na combat utility helicopters, at isang aerial camera. Samantala, nakakuha naman ang Philippine Navy ng dalawang multi-purpose attack craft, apat na  landing craft utility, at 76mm ammunition. "We are in the process of building our capability. However, we don't have a clear time frame," ani Burgos.   "It's very expensive and we can't demand more than what we're capable of. We can't get the budget for health or education. We make do with what we have," dagdag pa niya.   "We have always used the whole-nation approach," aniya. Naniniwala siyang mahalagang makakuha ng suporta mula sa lahat ng sektor ng security program ng gobyerno. 'Bigong' modernization program Binigyang-diin naman ni Senator Panfilo Lacson, sa kanyang sponsorship speech para sa Senate Bill 3164 na naglalayong amyendahan ang Modernization Act of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, ang kahalagahan sa pagpapabuti ng defense capabilities ng bansa. Inaprubahan ng Senado ang SB 3164 nitong buwan. "This matter [Panatag Shoal dispute] only serves to elucidate the importance of having a reliable military force. While we do not discount the importance of having allies, it is undeniable that our country must have a reliable military force that can readily protect and defend our territory, our natural resources, and most importantly, our people," aniya. Binanggit din ni Lacson, pinuno ng Senate committee on national defense and security, ang umanoy pagkabigo ng Modernization Program. "What was then envisioned as a modernization program turned out to be only a capability upgrade for the AFP. But even at this level, the program still fell short of its target. The basic requirements of move, shoot and communicate of the AFP are substandard and outdated, if not totally lacking," aniya. Dagdag pa niya, ang pabago-bagong priority list, ang hindi pag-usad ng mga proseso, ang kakulangan ng teknikal na kaalaman, at ang ilang mga legal restrictions ang naging sanhi sa mababang kalidad ng programa. Ayon sa kanya, sa revised modernization program, nasasagot ang mga problema ng lumang batas. "The revised modernization program takes into account the pitfalls of the previous model and incorporates provisions that will ensure a more efficient and cost-effective implementation of the program," ani Lacson. "SB 3164 will be conducted in accordance with the Defense System of Management or DOSM, a strategy-driven, capability-based, multi-year planning and execution process," ayon pa sa senador. — Mandy Fernandez /LBG, GMA News