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September 2nd, 2009 11:32 AM #1AFP modernization impossible with P5-B budget
By Rey M. Nasol
Inquirer Southern Luzon
First Posted 15:26:00 08/28/2009
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines—The planned modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will not materialize with its current budget of P5 billion per year, which is just enough for the upgrading of its capabilities, said Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro at a press briefing here Thursday.
Teodoro said the Philippines has one of the world's smallest national defense budgets compared to Thailand’s $3.4 billion, Malaysia’s $30 billion, and the United States $560 billion.
“What we need is at least $3.4 billion dollar budget, same as that of Thailand, to be able to curb threats to national security,” he said.
Teodoro said there was a need to increase government revenues to have an increase in the national defense budget without prejudice to government expenditures for social services and infrastructure.
Teodoro explained that the biggest share of the defense budget goes to disaster relief and emergency assistance and humanitarian assistance; and for petroleum, oil and lubricants.
“We are the agency always tasked to work in times of disaster,” he said.
The use of ships, aircraft and vehicles consumes a lot of the agency's budget compared to combat operations, added Teodoro.
Aside from this, some P30 million of the defense budget goes to the pension of retired personnel since they are not GSIS members.
Teodoro said “long-term prospects” for increased development could help curb insurgency.
“Put up a street in a remote village and make that accessible and the insurgency is reduced by at least 50 percent,” he said.
The defense chief appealed to the Senate to hasten passage of the amnesty proclamation for surrendering rebels because “those who sincerely want to return to the fold of the law would be given a new lease on life without any fear of prosecution.”
Teodoro believes the government might meet its target of eliminating insurgency next year, particularly in the Bicol area, because activities of the New People's Army have been concentrated in certain key areas identified in Bicol and in Mindanao.
In Northern Luzon, Teodoro said the Armed Forces have divided the responsibility of handling insurgency with the local government units.
He said the goal is to reduce the size of the rebels so that the insurgency problem becomes a mere law-and-order problem by the time President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's term ends.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...th-P5-B-budgetLast edited by russpogi; September 2nd, 2009 at 03:42 PM. Reason: added quotes...
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Tsikoteer
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September 2nd, 2009 12:07 PM #3
New weaponry cost $$$. With P5B, you'd end up with only US$ 10 million. A new UH-60L Blackhawk cost US$ 5 million alone w/o training and spares. No wonder we can only afford near-junk surplus weaponry...
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An EV for city driving sounds very good in theory and we've been seriously considering them...
All New Toyota Corolla Cross