The Armed Forces of the Philippines is set to focus on territorial defense this year. File photo
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday called on lawmakers to grant a bigger budget for the military to improve territorial defense capability.
During the Senate hearing on the reclamation activities of China in West Philippine Sea, AFP chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. suggested that at least 1 percent of the national budget should be allocated for national defense.
READ: AFP chief: Defense spending should be 1% of Phl budget
"Funding is crucial for our modernization program... I hope that our senators will really support us in this endeavor because we don't have the luxury of time. Our threats are already there," Catapang told the Senate panel.
National Security Council Director General Cesar Garcia noted that the military should shift its focus to territorial defense given that the country's territorial disputes with China are the biggest national security concern at the moment.
Catapang said that the Philippines is also facing global wars against terrorism, global warming, maritime issues, transnational crime and possibly proliferation of weapons for mass destruction.
According to the AFP chief, the Armed Forces is only buying refurbished equipment since it could not afford to acquire new ones.
Compared to the its neighbors in South East Asia, the Philippines is among the lowest in national defense funding, Garcia added.
"We are far behind in the region as far as the capability of the Armed Forces," Department National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin added.
Sen. Antonio Trillanes then reassured the Senate's commitment in supporting the military's modernization program, particularly the on issue of additional funding.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/05/07/1452182/afp-wants-additional-funding-territorial-defense
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