House backs bigger defense fund to protect Philippine sovereignty

By Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz @joveemarie

dez stressed. “We must remember that a strong defense is not merely a tool for confrontation but a means to uphold peace, stability, and the rule of law,” he added.

Romualdez said it is the duty of the entire government to ensure that our nation is adequately equipped to face any challenges that may come our way.

“By prioritizing our defense sector in the budget, we are making a commitment to our people, to our allies, and to the international community that reflects our unwavering resolve to protect our sovereignty and promote regional stability,” Romualdez said.

has increased the budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (AFPMP) to P50 billion.

“The AFPMP is set to receive another P50 billion in fresh funding in the 2024 national budget,” Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said in a separate statement.

“The P50 billion in programmed new appropriations is all for capital outlay and shall be used exclusively to bankroll the funding requirements of the AFPMP,” Pimentel added.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez issued the statement as the budget briefing for next year’s national budget starts on Thursday.

Under the proposed 2024 budget, Romualdez noted that the allocation for the defense sector is P282.7 billion, or 21.6 percent more compared to the P203.4 billion under the 2023 budget.

On Monday, the lower chamber backed President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s decision to consult military leaders on the illegal use of water cannons by Chinese ships on Philippine Coast Guard and civilian vessels resupplying a platoon of Filipino soldiers stationed in Ayungin Shoal off Palawan.

“Our commitment to safeguarding our territorial integrity and ensuring the safety of our citizens remains unwavering. As a nation, we must take proactive measures to enhance our defense capabilities and ensure that we have the necessary resources to effectively protect our sovereign rights,” Romualdez said.

According to the President’s budget message, this fund will support the Land, Air, and Naval Forces Defense Programs, totaling P188.5 billion, as well as the UN Peacekeeping Mission, among others, to ensure domestic security.

“This allocation demonstrates our dedication to maintaining a strong and credible defense posture, one that sends a clear message that we will not compromise when it comes to safeguarding our national interests,” Romual -

The Speaker also expressed his support for the diplomatic actions the government is taking in relation to the harassment of PCG and civilian ships on a resupply mission last Saturday.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has sent a diplomatic note to Beijing protesting the Ayungin water cannon blast incident.

Romualdez commended the President for his firm stand on the issue of Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea.

“We support his position that we should continue to assert our sovereignty there and that we should defend every inch of our territory,” he said.

Modernization program

AMID the simmering maritime dispute between Manila and Beijing, the Marcos administration hazards of the reclamation projects in Manila Bay.

“We are most exposed to threats coming from the sea, so we definitely favor larger modernization projects for the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Marine Corps in the years ahead,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel’s remarks also came shortly after a China Coast Guard vessel used a water cannon attack to thwart a supply boat from delivering food and other provisions to the Philippine Marine outpost on the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Pimentel is the author of a bill that seeks to declare and develop the 37.2-hectare Pag-asa Island, the largest Philippine-occupied landmass in the northeastern section of the disputed Spratly archipelago, as a recreational fishing and tourism destination.

Like Ayungin Shoal, Pag-asa forms part of the Kalayaan Island Group, which also includes the islets of Likas, Parola, Lawak, Kota, Patag, and Panata, Balagtas Reef, and Rizal Shoal.

P2 billion in 2022.

H e added that the zero budget for public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization will tip transport workers into even greater poverty.

T his, he said, implies a “complete disregard for the welfare of transport workers who have been demanding a just transition in order to service everyday passengers.”

“When commuters come down from the train station, we walk, bike, or ride a jeep and tricycle. Yet we see no meaningful budget to make these modes more safe and reliable for the 94 percent of Filipinos who do not own private vehicles. The Philippine Development Plan [PDP] 2023-2028 declares that pedestrians and cyclists will be accorded highest priority in the hierarchy of road users,” he said.

H owever, Siy said, the 2024 budget does not reflect this significant transportation policy statement.

F urthermore, the transport economist said the 2024 NEP “disregards” the findings of nine national Social Weather Stations (SWS) surveys from May 2020 to April 2022 that there are four bicycle owners to every car owner in the Philippines.

Siy also cit ed a November 2020 SWS that showed that 87 percent of Filipinos believe that “roads in Philippine cities and municipalities will be better off if public transportation, bicycles, and pedestrians are given priority over private vehicles.”

Members of the Coalition express their grave concern about the decreased budgets for PUV modernization and active transport.

Aside from the lack of budget for active transport and PUV Modernization, service contracting, one of the key programs in improving public transport, also “suffers from zero budget in the 2024 NEP.”

According to Siy, this is a “crucial program” that would enable public transport to remain financially viable while fares are kept affordable for commuters battered by high inflation.

LAWMAKERS on Tuesday filed a resolution urging the House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, regarding the status of the Manila Bay reclamation projects due to concerns about national security.

ACT-CIS Reps. Erwin Tulfo, Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap filed House Resolution No. 1171, echoing the sentiment of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who also wants to know who is in charge of keeping an eye on all these Chinese vessels involved in the reclamation.

In their resolution, the lawmakers said the preservation and security of the nation are of paramount importance, and any activity that may impact our national security requires scrutiny.

“The ongoing and proposed reclamation projects within Manila Bay have raised concerns about potential implications for the National Security of the Philippines,” said the resolution.

“Although the ongoing land

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday with Robinsons Malls and SM Supermalls for the casting of votes for the October 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in malls.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia confirmed that 14 malls in total would be operating as polling stations on October 30, 2023.

Some of the malls include: n SM City Legazpi, Legazpi City, Albay n SM City Consolacion, Cebu City n SM City North EDSA, Quezon City n SM City Manila, Ermita, Manila n SM City Sucat, Parañaque n Robinsons Metro East, Pasig n Robinsons Ermita, Manila n Robinsons Magnolia, New Manila, Quezon City n Robinsons Las Piñas, Las Piñas n Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City

The move to tap malls as voting stations is for the convenience of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, said Garcia.

Polling precincts located near the said commercial establishments will be transferred to the malls.

BSKE was originally set in May 2020, but was later on postponed to December 2022, and moved again to October 2023. Patrick V. Miguel reclamation may offer potential economic benefits and development opportunities, it also raises concerns about its environmental impact, such as the alteration of coastal processes and the possible effects on water quality and marine biodiversity,” it added.

Recently, the lawmakers said the United States government has expressed concerns over the potential negative long-term and irreversible impacts on the environment and resilience to natural

They added that the United States also raised concerns that the reclamation project had ties to the China Communications Construction Co., which was cited by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank for engaging in fraudulent business practices.

“A comprehensive inquiry, in aid of legislation, is essential to assess the current status of Manila Bay reclamation projects, including their compliance with environmental laws, the potential social, economic, and national security consequences,” the resolution read. Jovee Marie N. Dela Cruz