AFP Modernization to Include Bases Upgrade

It has been such a long time since we have heard of projects concerning our military sector
!he AFP"M law that was started by former President Fidel # $amos% after &' years will be given
attention again% not that there really were no attention given to it for the past & decades !he
realization of preparing our national defence against other neighbouring countries who threatens
our safety and security was just awa(ened by the imposing threat of our territorial rivals
!he imposing threat of the neighbouring countries% specifically )hina% had our AFP and our
President A*uino awa(ened that our military needs to be strengthened !his idea personified when
the issue of being +bullied+ was imposed to what our rivals did But for the past & decades% what
has been happening when there was a law concerning the upgrade of AFP,s military capability that
President $amos started Bac( then% to finance the modernization projects% the $amos
administration initiated the privatization of several Metro Manila military camps -here were
these funds then. /alf of it went for the various program of the Bases )onversion and
0evelopment Authority /ow about the rest of it. 1obody could tell e2actly where the money
was But today% during President A*uino,s term% the revised AFP"M law of &'3& will have an
allocation of 435 billion or roughly P67 billion !he plan is to strengthen our 1avy% considered
one of the wea(est in 8outheast Asia Including purchase of frigates% aircrafts% helicopters% coastal
vessels and amphibious assault vehicles and ac*uisition of intelligence and surveillance systems
boosting the AFP,s defence capability !he allocation does not end there because the improvement
of the military bases will be part of the items to be funded by the law 9fcourse these newly
ac*uired weapons and e*uipments needs to be housed in a newly improved location 8o the
military decided to include facilities li(e the hangar that will be used to house the helicopters and
other air assets and the berthing facilities will provide space for floating assets to doc( !he
modernization program will also involve the construction of access roads for aerial radars to be
used to monitor the country,s territory and to provide U8 and other allies access to its bases
President A*uino though did a very good job of ma(ing the military officers and reservists ta(e
the matter seriously during his speech in )amp Aguinaldo in :uezon )ity /e said +I am in favour
of an e2tensive modernization of the armed forces But we cannot forego the primary needs of our
people li(e education% health and jobs just to appear strong in the eyes of other countries%+ ma(ing
his position clear with regards to the matter !he analogy of comparing what we can have with the
amount of money we are going to use to purchase military vehicles and e*uipments
!he AFP"M law has been long delayed indeed It is time to give it attention and importance
most especially in this troubling time when one of our major economic partner imposes a threat to
us because of a territorial claim more than 3'' times smaller than their own territory But we need
to balance the military,s modernization and the need to provide for basic services