P60-B AFP projects lack Noy signature

From the Philippine Star (Jul 22): P60-B AFP projects lack Noy signature



President Aquino checks a newly acquired air asset during the celebration of the 68th founding anniversary of the Philippine Air Force at Air Force City in Clark Air Base, Pampanga. File photo

At least 28 projects worth over P60 billion under the Armed Forces Modernization Law have been delayed for lack of President Aquino’s signature.

Security sources told The STAR yesterday that the program was sent back to the Department of Budget and Management.

This again set back the timetable for the revised Armed Forces Modernization Law, which states that the President, upon recommendation of the budget and defense secretaries, shall submit the program to Congress within 60 days from the date the law took effect.

The still unsigned program was sent to Malacañang back in February 2013, or two months after Aquino signed the measure into law.

Upgrading the Armed Forces of the Philippines has become a pressing concern as the country is struggling to defend its territory against an aggressive and well-equipped Chinese military.

Among the P60.14 billion worth of affected big-ticket items are two Navy frigates costing P18 billion; three air surveillance radars, P2.68 billion; six close air support aircraft, P4.97 billion; two units of long range patrol aircraft, P5.98 billion; multi-purpose attack craft, P864.32-million; night fighting system, P1.116 billion; two C-130 aircraft at P1.6 billion; two naval helicopters at P5.4 billion, and lead-in fighter trainer jets ammunition worth P4.47 billion.

Also facing delays are four basing support system and logistics projects with a total budget of P2.15 billion. The projects seek to improve existing military facilities in strategic areas.

Other items in the list include Army radios, thermal imaging device, field ambulance units, armored personnel carriers, flight simulators, amphibious assault vehicles, combat systems, light utility vehicles and engineering equipment.

Defense officials, however, said President Aquino remains committed to the modernization program.
“These items are being scrutinized. These projects have to be examined because of the changing security environment,” defense department spokesman Peter Galvez said.

If Aquino does not approve the program, the defense department can seek funding for each item but sources admit that it will involve a longer process.

The government plans to spend P25 billion next year to boost the military’s capabilities, a development officials hope will finally bring the armed forces back to its old glory.

“The approval of the P25-billion budget is a very welcome development in our modernization,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt. Col. Noel Detoyato said.

Completed

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has so far completed 55 upgrade projects worth P11.71 billion under Aquino’s leadership.

Since he assumed power in 2010, President Aquino has been citing the importance of modernizing the military, a sector that was neglected under previous administrations.

Not once did he blame “bad governance” for the depleted capabilities of the AFP, which has deteriorated from being one of the most respected to one of the weakest in the region.

However, questions have been raised on whether Aquino can deliver on his promise as he has yet to sign the AFP Modernization Program, something he was supposed to do two years ago. The program outlines the projects to be funded, schedules and the average cost of each project.

Without Aquino’s signature, projects like surveillance radars, warships and air assets that can boost the country’s territorial defense cannot proceed because their funds will not be released.

To be sure, the Aquino administration has significant accomplishments in terms of modernizing the military.

A total of 55 military upgrade projects completed under the Aquino administration as of July showed that the Army got 22 projects worth P5.02 billion; the Navy was given 19 projects with a total amount of P2.03 bilion and the Air Force got five worth P3.78 billion. Seven projects worth P791 million benefited General Headquarters while the Government Arsenal got two projects worth P130.89 million.

The Aquino administration completed more projects than the previous administration, which implemented a total of 45 projects worth P12.51 billion.

Galvez said the completion of the 55 upgrade projects is “a significant development towards achieving the country’s intended defense capabilities.”

The Air Force projects completed under Aquino were 18 units of basic trainer aircraft worth P621.67 million; one aerial surveillance camera worth P50.99 million: 20 units of MD 520 MG attack helicopters (P214.34 million), eight combat utility helicopters (P2.86 billion) and enhancement of radio electrical instruments and precision measuring equipment laboratory worth P35.79 million.

The completed Navy projects are coast watch systems for two sites (P59.99 million), four lots of night fighting systems (P317.6 million), 720 units of 76 mm ammunition (P46.9 million), 79 units of 20W vehicular configuration radios (P231 million), hydrographic equipment (P4.05 million), 20 units of one-ton troop carriers (P46 million), 20 units of two-ton troop and cargo carriers (P80.5 million), landing craft utility (P178.93 million), Jacinto-class patrol vessels upgrade (P274.65 million), three units of multi-purpose attack aircraft (P268.99 million), coast watch stations for two sites (P23.6 million), 12 units of five-ton prime mover for 155m howitzer trucks (P38.88 million), two units of rigid hull inflatable boats (P34.75 million), 230 units of 7.62mm general purpose machine guns (P161.12 million), 5,503 units of close combat optics (P96 million), explosive ordnance division equipment (P12.54 million), 720 units of 40 mm grenade launcher (P45.05 million), eight units of 40mm automatic grenade launchers (P19.75 million) and 330 personal role radios (P86 million).

The completed Army projects are 137 units of one-ton troop carrier truck (P298.11 million), four light support watercraft (P35.3 million), 250 units of two-ton troop carrier (P837 million), two lots of night fighting systems worth P276.11 million and P372.24 million; 62 units of audio video system (P37.89 million), three units of C4I Geographic Information System (P11.33 million), six units of five-ton prime mover for 155m howitzer truck (P38.88 million), 60 units of field ambulance (P300.78 million), 85 units of special purpose vehicle (P111.9 million), 190 units of one-ton troop carrier truck (P494 million), 840 units of global positioning system (P20.59 million), 12 units of prime mover truck (P144 million), 100 units and 2,000 rounds of 81 mm mortar with ammunition (P189.5 million), 348 units of portable radio receivers (P52.45 million), C41/GIS equipment (P188.88 million), 78 units of audio-video equipment (P11.5 million), two phases of 20W man pack radios worth P380 million and P272.8 million, 1,376 units of 5W handheld radios (P364.14 million), 210 units of 50 W AV configuration radio (P499.57 million), and 53 units of 100W base radios (P80.4 million).
The two completed Government Arsenal projects were metallic raw materials (P120.99 million) and input materials for bullet assembly machine (P9.9 million).

The seven projects that benefited the General Headquarters were AFP Medical Center operating room upgrade (P56.4 million), fixed communication system (P388.9 million), 46 light utility vehicles (P133.4 million), technical forensic upgrade (P19.98 million), 33 units of Presidential Security Group multi-purpose rocket launchers (P37.44 million), radio frequency test equipment (P109.17 million) and enhanced data generation system (P19.97 million).

Two projects funded by the Department of Energy were also completed – two weather high endurance cutters worth P1.78 billion and three naval helicopters worth P1.34 billion.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2015/07/22/1479631/p60-b-afp-projects-lack-noy-signature