Estrada seeks investigation into AFP Modernization Program

Model ships from local company Josefa Shipbuilding are shown here during the ‘Self-Reliant Defense Posture’ exhibit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on October 9, 2025. —INQUIRER.net / GABRYELLE DUMALAG

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada has filed a resolution urging the Senate to direct the appropriate committees to exercise their oversight functions in examining the implementation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program.

Estrada said the move aims to identify possible legislative interventions to enhance the country’s defense capabilities in light of continuing and escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea, persistent acts of harassment against Filipino fisherfolk and maritime personnel, as well as the emerging cyber threats.

“Our defense posture must evolve rapidly. We cannot afford delays when the safety and security of the Filipino people are at stake,” said Estrada, who recently filed Senate Resolution No. 161.

He expressed concern over what he called “sluggish” progress of the AFP Modernization Program despite its strategic importance in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Estrada, vice chair of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, noted that its implementation has been hampered by delays and underfunding.

As of 2025, several modernization projects, under phases called Horizons, remain incomplete: 15 from Horizon 1 (2013–2017), 73 from Horizon 2 (2018–2022), and 37 under Horizon 3 (2023–2027).

He lamented that the proposed ₱133.7 billion budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) for Fiscal Year 2026 was drastically reduced to ₱90 million in the National Expenditure Program — ₱50 million of which falls under unprogrammed appropriations, meaning its release will now depend on excess revenue collections and foreign grants.

“This stark gap between proposed and actual funding reflects the budgetary constraints that continue to hinder progress,” Estrada said.

“These figures reveal a glaring mismatch between our defense needs and actual funding support. Our soldiers are ready to defend the country, but we must equip them with the tools and technology necessary to do so effectively,” he said.

He stressed that the modernization of the AFP is not just about purchasing equipment.

“It’s about ensuring that the Philippines remains sovereign, secure and ready to protect every Filipino—whether at sea, in the air, on land or online,” the senator said. /apl