The price for “lightweight” Armed Forces of the Philippines

What will it take for “lightweight” AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to become “heavyweight” that can stand up to nations that are bullying Philippines? Money, let’s do it.

General Gregorio Catapang, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, said on a Senate hearing on the Department of National Defense’s budget nearly Php300 billion needed over at least a decade for AFP’s modernization program.

He described modernization program as divided into three “horizons.” First costs Php85 billion, will help Philippines achieve “minimum credible defense posture” for the country’s territory protection.

“Second horizon is Php85 to Php100 billion will take six years, while the third horizon is Php100 to Php125 billion and another six years for the military hardware and bases development,” Catapang said in an ambush interview.

“We can think of it like boxing where the first horizon is the bantamweight, then the second horizon is the middleweight, and eventually the third horizon is heavyweight,” Catapang said.

During hearing, Senator Legarda asked Voltaire Gazmin how military was ensuring security and integrity of Philippine territory given the reduction of their budget.

“Right now we rely only on what we have,” Gazmin said. AFP recently was able to acquire two ships, BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, from United States coast guard.