DBM slashes military’s 2014, 2015 modernization budget

From the Business Mirror (Sep 22): DBM slashes military’s 2014, 2015 modernization budget

The military’s modernization program would have a total funding shortfall of P20.8 billion in 2014 and 2015, as the budget sought by the Armed Forces to modernize its assets and equipment was turned down by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The Department of National Defense (DND), which oversees the Armed Forces, has proposed a budget of P141.84 billion for next year that also include other agencies and offices under the DND.

Party-list Rep. Ashley Acedillo of Magdalo disclosed that while the defense department requested for a budget of P24 billion for 2014 and P26.8 billion for 2015 for the Armed Forces Modernization Program, the twin amounts were not approved by the DBM.

During a recent budget hearing, Defense Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said that for 2014, the military received only P9.7 billion for its modernization program.

For 2015, the DBM only approved P20 billion for the same program, which is P6.8-billion less than the AFP’s requested funding of P26.8 billion.

“In other words, there is a shortfall of P6.8 billion in 2015. For 2014 and 2015, there is a shortfall of around P20.8 billion,” said Acedillo, a retired officer of the Air Force.

He added that while the government has other priorities to fund, the AFP Modernization Program should also be adequately supported for the country’s welfare and national security.

“We understand that the AFP Modernization Program, spread for several years, will cost the government a lot. But we firmly believe that there is no price tag for national security,” he said.

Acedillo advised the DND to work closely with the DBM and the House Committee on National Defense in order to find a solution to the budgetary requirements of the modernization program.

During the same hearing, Budget Assistant Secretary Tina Rose Marie Canda said the original segregation or annual amount for the AFP Modernization Program is only P15 billion a year.

“We did not expect that there will be an acceleration in the acquisition of projects for the modernization program,” Canda said.

The AFP modernization law was enacted on February 23, 1995, during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. On December 11, 2012, President Aquino signed into law Republic Act 10349, which amended the AFP modernization law by extending the program for another 15 years, with an initial budget of P75 billion for the first five years.

Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang has urged Congress to continue supporting the AFP Modernization Program.

“With your help, we really need our modernization program to proceed. We are very much thankful for this 16th Congress for supporting us because we have already lined up P85 billion for our first horizon,” he said.

Catapang said what he wants done before his term ends is to declare the entire country peaceful and ready for further development, so that it can transition toward territorial defense.

“Inasmuch as we know, the wars we will be facing in the 21st century will all be global— global terrorism, global climate change, global maritime concern, global transnational crime and global proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/39175-dbm-slashes-military-s-2014-2015-modernization-budget