AFP CHIEF URGED LAWMAKERS TO SUPPORT MODERNIZATION PROGRAM
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
Philippine News Agency – The AFP modernization law was enacted on Feb. 23, 1995 during the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos. On Dec. 11, 2012, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10349, which amends the AFP modernization law by extending the program for another 15 years with an initial budget of Php75 billion for the first five years.
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Gregorio Catapang urged lawmakers during the 2015 budget hearing to continue supporting the AFP Modernization Program. “So with your help, we really need our modernization program to proceed. We are very much thankful for this 16th Congress for supporting us because we have already lined up Php85 billion for our first horizon,” he said.
Catapang said what he wants done before his term ends is to declare the entire country peaceful and ready for further development so that it can transition towards territorial defense. “In as much as we know, the wars we will be facing in the 21st century will all be global — global terrorism, global climate change, global maritime concern, global transnational crime, and global proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” he said.
He expressed hope that by 2028, the AFP would already have achieved a ‘heavy weight’ status and able to protect Filipinos not only in the country but also those who are abroad. “If they have problems, if there is war in the country they are working in, then we need to respond immediately and get them out of harm’s way,” said Catapang.
AFP chief urged lawmakers to support modernization program
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66 MILITARY PROJECTS SET FOR DELIVERY, COMPLETION BY 2015
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
Philippine News Agency – Sixty-six capability upgrade projects for the military will be completed by 2015, a ranking official of the Department of National Defense said during the hearing on the DND’s proposed budget for next year at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Tuesday.
Defense Undersecretary for Modernization Fernando Manalo said that these include the attack helicopters, medium and light-lift aircraft, strategic-sealift vessels, and F/A-50 fighter aircraft.
This was in response to the question made by Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani T. Zarate on what equipment can the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) expect within the coming years.
Manalo said they are ready to submit to Congress a more detailed description of the 66 military upgrade projects slated for delivery and completion next year.
The DND is proposing a Php141.85-billion budget for 2015. These can be broken down into: 37.75 percent for personnel services of the Army, Air Force, Navy; 15.29 percent for capital outlay; 17.11 percent for MOOE (maintenance and other operating expenses); and 29.87 percent for pensions of retired military personnel.
66 military projects set for delivery, completion by 2015
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PHILIPPINES PLANS TO GIVE MUSLIMS AUTONOMOUS ZONE
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014
Associated Press – The president of the overwhelmingly Catholic Philippines proposed Wednesday to give Muslims in the south the ability to run their own government under their own flag, part of a peace plan aimed at ending a four-decade rebellion that has killed 150,000 people.
The draft law submitted by President Benigno Aquino III to Congress fleshes out a peace deal signed in March by the country’s largest Muslim insurgent group, the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
The autonomous region in the southern island of Mindanao, to be called Bangsamoro, would get its own 60-member parliament that would wield exclusive power over such areas as agriculture, trade, tourism and education.
Under the proposal, Islamic Shariah law would apply to Muslims in the region, but the country’s justice system would continue to apply to non-Muslims. The Moro group has renounced the terrorist acts of extremist groups, including the Islamic State, which seeks to impose a harsh version of Shariah law in areas under its control in Syria and Iraq.
But at least three smaller Muslim rebel groups in the southern Philippines oppose the autonomy deal and have vowed to continue fighting for a separate Muslim homeland.
The autonomous zone, which generally covers five provinces, would replace an existing one, seen as a dismal failure. The new plan grants much more autonomy to the region, and Aquino’s government also has promised to pour 17 billion pesos ($389 million) in special development funds over the next five years into the region, which has been stunted economically by the long-drawn conflict.
The new region will also get larger revenue shares, including 75 percent of national taxes, fees and charges collected by the government in Bangsamoro. The current Muslim region gets 70 percent of those taxes.
The rebels have been fighting since the 1970s for Muslim self-rule in Mindanao in an insurrection that has killed about 150,000 combatants and civilians. The United States and other Western governments have backed the autonomy deal partly to prevent the insurgency from breeding extremists who could threaten their countries.
The peace accord and the draft law came after 13 years of tough negotiations.
The Philippine autonomy bill is expected to come under intense scrutiny in Congress, but it is eventually expected to pass given that both the Senate and House of Representatives are dominated by Aquino’s allies. The bill may face legal challenges from Christian politicians and groups, which are wary of ceding territory, power and influence to Muslims.
Philippines plans to give Muslims autonomous zone
and I think that's the reason why japan will buy some. IMO we need some heavy lift choopers on the inventory (maybe 6).
