House hints at bigger DND budget amid Chinese incursions

MANILA, Philippines — Congress is keen on increasing the 2024 budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) in response to continued Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said on July 10.

“A fuller picture would help us understand what policy reforms are needed to bolster our defense capabilities. So, what we really need from the DND is how much would it take to get us to adequate readiness,” Salceda, chairman of the House ways and means committee, said in a statement.

“To the extent that discretion allows, it is in the public’s interest to know what preparations are being made to defend our territorial waters and what resources are needed to ensure that we are ready,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter what we can afford,” he said. “We can explore different sources. What matters is how far we have gone and what steps we still need to take.”

He noted that his committee was ready to vigorously discuss the matter as it had “worked on amendments to the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Law, to accommodate more foreign aid from European countries in the areas of defense.”

“I’m glad (Defense) Secretary Gilbert Teodoro is now on board because we have serious questions of maritime defense capabilities that need to be addressed in the 2024 budget. I will be sending in questions that I hope the DND, the National Security Adviser and the Philippine Coast Guard can provide answers during the budget hearings,” Salceda said.

At the same time, he also expressed support for the acquisition of advanced defense capabilities as part of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization for this year.

“This year, we will be acquiring US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Indian BrahMos anti-ship cruise missiles. They have lethal capacity to maritime aggression,” the House official disclosed.

“This is one of the most underreported accomplishments of the President, and I fully support him in this. We in Congress will make room in the budget and our foreign aid policy for this,” Salceda pointed out.

“PBBM is accomplishing many things under the radar. One of the major strides of his administration is AFP modernization. He’s able to do that because his emphasis on peacemaking and internal unity is allowing us to focus more on external threats,” he said, referring to President Marcos by his initials.

“Moving forward, my committee also hopes to support with policy our capability to build ships and a homegrown defense industry. Every decent military force has one,” he said.

‘Covert’ flights

Meanwhile, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro has called on her colleagues to investigate “covert” flights of the US military within Philippine territory.

In a statement yesterday, Castro said the flights “occurring without the knowledge of airport authorities” are a cause for concern.

Castro noted the flights highlighted “the fact that the entire country has effectively become a US military base under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) and the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).”

“It is clear that the EDCA and VFA have turned the entire Philippines into a de facto US military base, compromising our national sovereignty,” she maintained.

“These ‘covert’ flights of US planes all over the country, conducted without even the knowledge of airport authorities, are deeply troubling,” she added. 

According to Castro, the covert flights of US military “may be contributing to the increased presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea.”

It is possible, she said, that these flights are serving as a “catalyst for China’s assertiveness in the area.”

She added the “continued presence of US military forces in our country only exacerbates tensions and compromises our ability to assert our own sovereignty.”

Castro underscored the need for a congressional probe to determine the extent and implications of the covert flights.