Senate President Win Gatchalian is pushing to increase the budget of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in a bid to ensure its continuous modernization, readiness, and capability-building amid continuing volatility in the geopolitical landscape.
“Talagang mabilis na nagbabago ang ating geopolitical situation sa rehiyon at buong mundo. Nakikita yung ibang conflict sa Middle East at Eastern Europe. Sa ganitong punto, importante na maging handa at patuloy na mino-modernize at pinapalakas ang ating armed forces kasama ang kanilang kapasidad sa cyber warfare,” said Gatchalian at the recent Senate hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies.
“Importante na maging handa at patuloy na mino-modernize at pinapalakas ang ating armed forces kasama ang kanilang kapasidad sa cyber warfare.”
“Importante na tuloy-tuloy yung suporta at sustainable hanggang umabot sa kakayahan na gusto natin,” the veteran legislator emphasized.
The seasoned lawmaker said that one area where the AFP needs funding support is in cyber warfare, which is no longer a theoretical threat but has turned into an active reality in modern defense strategy, making it imperative for the armed forces to develop its cyber defense capability.
According to the Senate President, funding support is also needed to enhance the AFP’s search and rescue capability in times of disaster.
“Hindi lang taga-defend ang ating armed forces kundi tumutugon din ito sa mga kalamidad na nangyayari sa ating bansa kagaya ng ‘pag may tumatama sa atin na malalakas na bagyo at iba pang uri ng kalamidad na nararanasan natin,” he noted.
