PH must boost maritime, air capabilities with US grant - expert

From the Philippine News Agency (Aug 1, 2024): PH must boost maritime, air capabilities with US grant - expert (By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora)

University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea director Jay Batongbacal (PNA file photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – The Philippine government should utilize the recently announced USD500 million foreign military funding (FMF) of the United States to enhance the country’s maritime and air capabilities, a maritime law expert said Thursday.

The US on July 30 announced that it will inject an additional USD500 million in funding for the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Coast Guard to help the country’s “territorial defense” efforts and contribute to regional security.

“Para sa akin yung ating maritime and air capabilities ang nangangailangan ng enhancement kasi kapag dating sa Army mayroon na silang sapat na capabilities at ‘yong mobility na lang nila ang medyo may kakulangan (For me, our maritime and air capabilities need enhancement because when it comes to the Army, they already have enough capabilities except for mobility),” Lawyer Jay Batongbacal, director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea, said in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.

He explained that this mobility challenge is also maritime in nature and therefore could be addressed by the Philippine Navy in the meantime.

The maritime law expert also hopes to see this funding getting invested in the Philippine Marine Corps.

“Iyon ring ating Philippine Marines na sa ngayon ay parte ng Navy dapat din silang mabigyan ng atensyon dito (Our Philippine Marines who are currently part of the Navy should also be given attention here),” he said.

“Ang ating archipelago siyempre kailangan niya ang ganitong klaseng mga external threats capability na talagang ang magiging frontline mo ay yung Air Force, Navy at Marines (Our archipelago needs this kind of external threats capability and of course the front-liners will actually be the Air Force, Navy and Marines),” he added.

The new funding is part of the USD2 billion in FMF that the US Congress and President Joe Biden allocated for the Indo-Pacific in April.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III made the announcement that USD500 million will go to the Philippines following a 2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.

The allocation is on top of the USD40 million in annual FMF that the Philippines receives from the US.

The FMF is provided to a partner nation on either a grant or direct loan basis to fund the purchase of American weapons, equipment, and defense training.

US defense chief visits Subic Bay firms

The Philippine Navy (PN) on Thursday said Austin visited the Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales to assess the industrial capabilities of companies located near the facility

In a statement, PN spokesperson Commander John Percie Alcos said the American defense chief was personally welcomed by PN head, Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr. during his visit on Wednesday.

He said Austin's visit intends to assess the industrial capabilities of companies in Subic Bay that will contribute to the Philippine military's modernization and their capacity to maintain ships of partner nations in the Indo-Pacific Region.

“We’ve come a long way in our relationship with the Philippines. I think it’s been fascinating to be a part of this and we are looking to a lot more going forward,” Austin said during his visit.

Meanwhile, Adaci expressed the PN's deep appreciation for Austin’s visit as a clear manifestation of the US support for the Navy.

"Vice Admiral Adaci affirmed the PN's support to all endeavors and activities that would further reinforce the longstanding defense alliance between the US and the Philippines. He also discussed with the visiting Secretary possible areas of collaboration between the forces of the PN and their American counterparts," Alcos stressed. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1230308