MANILA, Philippines – A House lawmaker pushed for the approval of a bill providing a 15-year modernization program for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the Committee on National Defense and Security, said there is a need to immediately approve House Bill 4949 as the current AFP Modernization Act sets to expire in December this year.
“The modernization program should focus on internal security,” Biazon said. He added that the proposed P428 billion for the first five years of the program will be utilized for the procurement of new military hardware. Aside from firearms and ammunitions, the AFP needs more helicopters that could be used for transporting supplies, and picking up injured soldiers in the battle fields.
“As former AFP chief I would know and would be able to look more closely at the ways the AFP Modernization plan would be more apt and beneficial, not only to the Philippine military but to the government and people,” Biazon said. “There is a need to recommend an amount that will give the AFP modernization a more realistic program and effectively respond to the real needs of the country’s military,” Biazon said.
PhilStar.com
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