Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has warned that corruption in public infrastructure projects, including flood control programs, could further strain government resources and impact the military’s ongoing modernization efforts. (Video courtesy of AFP Public Affairs Office via Martin Sadongdong | MB)
00:00Hi sir, you said in a commentary, I think in February, that the AFP's modernization program faces inevitable setbacks that ranges from geopolitical conflicts and I think budgetary constraints.
00:11And with all these developments, considering the mounting corruption scandal, are you concerned that this will impact the AFP's ongoing modernization program? What's your view on this?
00:20So, yeah, we recognize the fiscal limit of our country. In fact, for 2025, we only have 40 billion for our modernization program. This is not enough because our multi-year contracts amount already to about 36 million to 38 billion.
00:44I'm sorry. So, it doesn't allow us to buy new items.
00:51So, what the Secretary of National Defense did was to talk to the Secretary of Finance, to some banks, local banks, and international financial institutions to allow us to be able to borrow money or have financing, an extended financing for our modernization program.
01:17In other words, we will not rely too much on the GAA, the general appropriations anymore.
01:25We're looking at other possibilities also. For example, the use of military lands that are idle and make them productive so that we will be able to raise funds, enough funds, in order for us to continue the modernization program.
01:46And not only the modernization program, but also address the limitations in the pension fund of the armed forces.
01:55So, tumutulong po kami. We're trying to help the government raise funds.
02:01And also, in line with this, we are trying to develop our self-reliant defense posture program.
02:10We're trying to develop our defense industries so that we develop or manufacture defense items here in country.
02:20Just like before, we used to manufacture our own rifles, our ammunition, our radios, even some of our transport, mobility equipment were produced here.
02:37Nawala yun.
02:38Those industries, you know, we're lost along the way.
02:45But hopefully, we're trying to revive them again.
02:49And this time, we will try to produce items that are relevant in today's warfare.
02:55For instance, drones.
02:57Madali lang gumawa ng drones.
03:00It's easy to manufacture drones.
03:01And I believe we can do that here in country, perhaps in collaboration or partnership with other countries or other companies, corporations.
03:16Sir, follow up lang.
03:17So, sir, does that mean hindi naman stalled basically yung modernization program?
03:21But can you give updates, I guess, on those funding sources that the AFP or even the Philippine government is looking at to fund, I guess, the modernization program?
03:30Have any banks reached, well, have you brought any agreements already?
03:34Or, kasi the defense bonds were dropped, I think, in May, that plan.
03:38So, ano pang other plans besides that?
03:40So, we're also looking at foreign financing.
03:44Foreign financing.
03:44But there are restrictive laws against that, especially foreign financing for the defense or security industry sector.
03:55So, we're also working with Congress in order for them to come up with laws that would allow us to, you know, do foreign financing.
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