SENATE President Francis Escudero has expressed openness to increasing funding for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, but only if the military’s wish list includes new weapons technology.
Escudero emphasized the need for the AFP to be more mindful of its spending, particularly when acquiring new technology. He noted that newer weaponry might be more cost-effective and efficient.
“Every time there is a new chief of staff, the components of modernization change,” Escudero said, commenting on proposed increases to the military’s modernization budget in both houses of Congress. “Every administration comes in with a new plan. That is why modernization cannot be planned by just one administration because after five or six years, new technology might come out.”
The Senate President stressed the importance of maximizing the 2025 allocation for the AFP modernization program to upgrade military armaments effectively.
“We cannot look at and give funding to AFP modernization with closed eyes because the track record of the DND (Department of National Defense) and the AFP in the past has not always been maintained,” Escudero said.
