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| Extension of AFP Modernization Bill; To get approval by next year (2012) | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 22 2011, 11:52 AM (6,239 Views) | |
| Mckoyzzz | Dec 22 2011, 11:52 AM Post #1 |
Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
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Extension of modernization plan for AFP to get approval CONGRESS is eyeing next year’s passage of a measure that will extend the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization program, securing at least P428 billion for military upgrade in the next 15 years. Source: http://www.afp.mil.ph/ The bill has been approved by the House committee on defense and national security with plenary debates scheduled in January next year when session resumes after a month-long Christmas break. At the Senate, committee approval is expected in the first quarter of 2012, said Senator Gregorio B. Honasan, vice-chairman of the committee on national defense and security. The bills are aimed at keeping the country’s Armed Forces in fighting form through equipment and capabilities upgrade -- goals that should have been addressed by the P50-billion AFP modernization plan passed into law in 1995. The law will expire this month with only around P20 billion allotted for the program in the whole 15 years. “Unless Congress acts fast, the law will lapse this year, leaving our soldiers in a challenging situation,” an explanatory note of the House bill said. Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon, chairman of the House committee on national defense and security, said the pending bills earmark P428 billion for the modernization plan, but even this, he said, is not sufficient to provide all the necessary equipment for the country’s soldiers. “That is just the achievable amount,” he said. Half of the amount for modernization will come from general appropriations, while the other half will be sourced from proceeds in oil exploration and shares in the sale of military lands. The modernization plan will be divided in three parts, comprising of five years each. The first part will focus on internal security -- buying more transport vehicles for the soldiers to aid them in fighting local insurgents such as the Abu Sayyaf. Part two will be a combination of internal security and external defense, focusing on procurement of body armors, night vision goggles and better rifles. The last part of the modernization plan will focus on external defense and the procurement of radar systems. The Senate counterpart committee is still consolidating inputs from stakeholders but approval is expected in the first quarter of 2012, Mr. Honasan said. The final bill, he added, should clearly answer basic national security policies, while taking note of social and economic needs. “We should first modernize our way of thinking... and define our national interests,” he said by phone. Reforms assured For his part, President Benigno S. C. Aquino III yesterday committed to further improving governance in the armed forces, assuring the troops that systemic reforms are under way. “We will streamline systems and transactions in the Armed Forces,” the President said in the vernacular during yesterday’s celebration of the AFP’s 76th anniversary yesterday, noting gains in anti-corruption drive of the administration. “Taxpayers’ money is sacred and we will not allow it to be used the wrong way. We are aware that for every misused penny, a soldier’s life is put in danger,” Mr. Aquino added. He said reforms are under way starting with the government’s call for the withdrawal of the plea bargain agreement entered into by the Ombudsman and former military comptroller Carlos F. Garcia, who was accused of pocketing P300 million of AFP’s funds. Under the compromise deal, Mr. Garcia was allowed to plead guilty to lesser offenses of bribery and facilitation of money laundering and return only P130 million to the government. Meanwhile, the Philippines has asked the US to give it at least a squadron of secondhand F-16 fighters to help upgrade its territorial defenses, Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. del Rosario said. “We are just trying to restore our capability as it was before,” Mr. del Rosario told reporters. He said he hopes the fighters would be acquired through excess defense articles, a US military aid program. “We have been far more advanced many years ago,” he said. Mr. del Rosario said the acquisition of F-16 fighters would be among the issues to be discussed in strategic talks with Washington in the first quarter of 2012. -- Noemi M. Gonzales with Reuters http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?se...proval&id=43724 |
 "Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong -- Dandemis" | |
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| Mckoyzzz | Dec 22 2011, 11:55 AM Post #2 |
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Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
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Need for AFP bill cited By MARIO B. CASAYURAN December 9, 2011, 4:53pm MANILA, Philippines — For lack of time, there is no other recourse left for Congress but to file next year a bill seeking the extension of the multi-billion-peso Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program as the current modernization law is expiring on Dec. 31 this year. Sen. Panfilo M. Lacson, Senate national defense committee chairman, and his House of Representatives counterpart, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo G. Biazon, made this assessment as both chambers could not possibly come up with a consolidated bill on the modernization program since they are preparing to adjourn for a month-long Christmas break starting Dec. 17. Although Biazon told Bulletin he has just signed his committee report on the AFP modernization bill, Lacson cited time constraints on his plan to have his Senate bill analyzed and crafted into a final form by a technical working group. Both bills have to go through the debate process at the session halls of both chambers. After their passage in their respective chambers, the two approved measures will be consolidated into one bill and the differing versions or provisions have to be ironed out by a bicameral conference committee. The current 15-year P331-billion AFP modernization of 1995 ends Dec. 31. While Lacson has not divulged a look into his proposed AFP modernization program measure, Biazon said he would be filing a bill which has “different views.’’ Biazon said his bill seeks an extension of the AFP modernization program for another 15 years, but this time the appropriation will increase to P428 billion owing to the higher exchange rate from $1-P25 some 15 years ago to the current $1-P44 rate. Aside from the additional revenue sources, Biazon said his bill seeks fund infusion from earnings of the Malampaya gas wells near Palawan and the upcoming 15 new oil exploration service contracts in the South Sulu sea . The proposed modernization program entails the purchase of Navy equipment, particularly patrol boats and transport ships; helicopters, individual equipment and radar, among others. Biazon said he expects to meet with Lacson sometime next year on the modernization program. Asked whether there is a need to modernize the armed forcesSen. Loren Legarda, a reservist officer of the AFP, said that “we always want to support our Air Force who are facing a challenge in the field.’’ http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/344226/need-afp-bill-cited |
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"Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong -- Dandemis" | |
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| boxster | Dec 22 2011, 12:54 PM Post #3 |
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Damn this new modernization bill will further pull us behind our neighbors for another 15 years.. Why dont they come up with a bill that will address both internal and external defense requirments.. We are in the CUP 2 and we should continue sustaining efforts to build our external defense. This is really frustrating. Cong biazon, Sen lacson.. Our president is trying to rebuild our external defense capabilities can you not come up with a bill that will support Pnoys plans? Why are we going back to CUP 1? |
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| icefrog | Dec 22 2011, 01:24 PM Post #4 |
 
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This is severely inept. What happened to the $10 billion (P430-440 billion) over 5 years proposal? |
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| Mckoyzzz | Dec 22 2011, 02:01 PM Post #5 |
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Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
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It seemed, THIS IS the $10 billion proposal. You may have missed the number "1" on the 5 years. Should be 15 years! 
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"Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong -- Dandemis" | |
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| icefrog | Dec 22 2011, 02:10 PM Post #6 |
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http://www.congress.gov.ph/press/details.php?pressid=5328 ----------------
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/10492/b...ization-program |
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| Mckoyzzz | Dec 22 2011, 02:40 PM Post #7 |
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Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est
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This looks interesting... which is which now? |
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"Do not condemn the judgment of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong -- Dandemis" | |
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| ni84 | Dec 22 2011, 05:55 PM Post #8 |
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Modernization of the military does not need a bill or a law. You have to upgrade and buy new weapon and equipment. ( whether you like or not ) What happen the bill expire no more new equipment and hardware? Our military will be stagnant again. 
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We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux  Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000 | |
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| al'Lan Mandragoran | Dec 22 2011, 05:58 PM Post #9 |
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Brilliant. Could you possibly share with us how would you fund a modernization effort without approved appropriation from congress? 
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"In wars, boy, fools kill other fools for foolish causes." "Run when you have to, fight when you must, rest when you can." - Robert Jordan; The Wheel of Time | |
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| ni84 | Dec 22 2011, 06:14 PM Post #10 |
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Less people to be involve in the procurement. Disband or dismantle some command that are useless. It's time for other sources of military hardware and equipment. Stop giving money to the rebel group. that's my humble opinion. may I ask how much is the budget of the AFP and DND. |
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We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire...Give us the tools and we will finish the job. Sir Winston Churchill, BBC radio broadcast, 1941 We'll settle this the old navy way: first guy to die, loses. President Thomas 'Tug' Benson, Hot Shots! Part Deux Raketnye voyska strategicheskogo naznacheniya Rossiyskoy Federatsii 15,000 nukes and enough for another 40,000 | |
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