JV Ejercito to prioritize AFP modernization in 2024 nat’l budget amid Chinese bullying in WPS
August 09, 2023
Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on
Wednesday said he will ensure that the modernization program of the Armed
Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will receive adequate funding as the country
faces China’s growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
Ejercito said the national government needs to
expedite the implementation of Horizon 3 of the AFP modernization program,
which seeks to boost the country’s external defense systems.
“Given these development, mas lalo kong
ipaglalaban na makahabol tayo doon sa Horizon 3. Nadedelay tayo dahil sa mga
budgetary constraints in the past. As a supporter of the AFP Modernization
Program, talagang babantayan po natin ‘yan at sisiguraduhin na magiging updated
tayo so we can put up a credible defense posture,” he said in an
interview.
Ejercito’s remarks came after Chinese Coast
Guards blocked and fired water cannons at a Philippine resupply mission near
Ayungin Shoal last Saturday.
During the Senate’s budget deliberations on
the 2023 national budget, the lawmaker from San Juan secured an additional P10
billion for the AFP to support projects under Horizon 2 of its modernization
program.
For the current fiscal year, Congress has
allocated a total of P45 billion for the AFP modernization program.
Horizon 3 of the said program is expected to
commence this year.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the
military’s modernization program is now proceeding as scheduled despite
experiencing some delays due the COVID-19 pandemic.