P4.95 B released to beef up armed forces

MANILA, Philippines—Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said Wednesday Malacañang has released P4.95 billion to shore up the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) capability to defend the country’s territory, including existing and potential petroleum producing areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Abad said P2.65 billion is for the purchase of another cutter and three helicopters for the Philippine Navy while P2.3 billion will buy another set of three helicopters for the Philippine Air Force.

“The P4.95 billion will fund necessary capability requirements of AFP in its territorial defense operations, including providing a strong security perimeter for the Malampaya natural gas and power project,” he said in a press statement.

The fund release follows the disbursement last April of P423 million for the purchase from the US Coast Guard of the cutter Hamilton, now the navy’s biggest vessel.

Renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the decades-old warship is intended to be used for patrolling the waters around the Malampaya field and facilities as well as other service contract areas of the Department of Energy, particularly the Reed Bank, Kalayaan Island group, and Mapun in the Sulu Sea.

Malacañang has said the commissioning of BRP Gregorio del Pilar last month was part of efforts to strengthen the AFP amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea where China has allegedly encroached on Philippine territory.