Philippines Government signs new law extending AFP modernization plan

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday signed Republic Act No. 10349, a new law which will extend the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines for another 15 years.

But even before the law is implemented, the Commission on Audit, in its 2011 annual report, disclosed that a total of P72.5 million worth of military combat clothing procured by the Philippine Air Force has remained undelivered by the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management.

The undelivered items include combat and rubber shoes, flight suits, and mattresses. P21.4 million worth of these items remain undelivered since 2008.The COA explained that P21.4 million worth of combat clothing was undelivered in 2010, while P51.1 million worth was undelivered in the following year.

Mr. Aquino, meanwhile, said the new law will help boost the Armed Forced of the Philippines’ capability upgrade program.

“This ensures that our Armed Forces will be able to keep up with the modern times. This will boost the AFP’s capability upgrade program as it shifts from internal to external defense capability,” Mr. Aquino said.

“Security threats have changed: as the number of rebels go down, we have to focus more on terrorist threats. We are facing new challenges such as territorial disputes with bigger countries in the region,” the President added.

The Philippines has been engaged in heightened tensions with China the entire year over conflicting claims in the South China Sea.

“This new law ushers in a more modern, more reliable and stronger AFP. Our military is marching forward to protect our people and fight threats to our sovereignty,” Mr. Aquino said.

Under the new measure, the AFP modernization program will have a P75 billion budget for the first five years.

The measure exempts from the requirement of public bidding certain major defense purchases such as aircraft, vessels, tanks, armored vehicles, communications equipment and high powered firearms.

The new law also grants additional funding sources from public-private partnerships entered into by the defense department of the AFP.

It also allows multi-year contracts and exempts from value added tax and customs duties the sale of weapons, equipment, and ammunition to the AFP.

AFP planners had identified 39 projects to be covered by the revised modernization program.

The Air Force will acquire 21 additional UH-1B multipurpose helicopters to replace the Vietnam War-vintage UH-1H (Huey) helicopters and 10 attack helicopters in the next two years.

The modernization program would also include the purchase of three medium-lift aircraft to complement the Air Force’s C-130 Hercules cargo planes.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV expressed his gratitude to the President for signing the new law, saying the modernization law would boost the military’s capability to deal with national security threats.

Trillanes is the co-principal author of the new AFP Modernization Law in the Senate, along with Senator Panfilo Lacson.

“The AFP is the protector of the people of the State. It is hoped that through this law, the AFP will be able to fulfill its mandate,” Trillanes said. With Macon Ramos-Araneta and Merck Maggudayao


Source: By Joyce Pangco Panares - manilastandardtoday.com- 12 December 2012

Photo: The Philippine Air Force is expecting by November four additional Sokol helicopters from Augusta PZL Swidnick, an Italian and Polish firm, which signed a P2.8 billion ($65.6 million) contract with the AFP for the delivery of eight Sokol combat utility helicopters. (Photo by Philstar)


(12.12.2012)