ISANG magandang puhunan para sa bansa at sa mga mamamayan ang modernisasyon ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Ito ang ipinagdiinan ni AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo sa isang panayam sa Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, nitong Lunes.

“Modernizing the AFP is a wise investment for the taxpayers’ money. Although the campaign against (groups) that destroy the peace and prevent development of the country, like the local terrorist groups, including the New People’s Army (NPA) is successful, the AFP needs to update and enhance its capability to counter these threats -- human-induced and natural calamities,” pahayag ni Arevalo.

Aniya, ang pondong ginamit sa pakikipaglaban at pagsugpo sa NPA at iba pang rebelde sa bansa sa mga nakalipas na panahon ay maaari sanang nagamit para sa modernisasyon ng AFP upang makasabay sa ibang mga kalapit na bansa sa Timog-silangang Asya at makayanan ang banta ng mga teroristang grupo.

Ito rin ang inihayag ni Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana nang tanungin kung ang mga nangyayaring operasyon laban sa iba’t ibang grupo ay nagpapabagal sa pagsisikap na gawing moderno ang AFP.

“Of course, because money that could have been used for modernizing our troops are used to fight terror. For instance, (in) the five-month Marawi Siege, the AFP spent almost PHP4 billion (to fight and defeat the Maute Group terrorists), excluding the amount to care for the IDPs (internally displaced persons) by other agencies than ran into billions as well,” paliwanag ng Kalihim ng DND.

Una nang nagbigay ng pahintulot si Pangulong Duterte para sa Horizon Two ng Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program, na nakatakda ngayong 2018 hanggang 2022, at tinatayang gugugol ng P300 bilyong para sa implementasyon.

Tumagal ang Horizon One mula 2013 hanggang 2017 at nagresulta sa pagkakaroon ng tatlong del Pilar-class frigates, 12 FA-50PH light-lift interim fighters at dalawang strategic sealift vessels.

Habang ilan sa mga inaasahang bibilhin sa Horizon Two ay ang towed and self-propelled howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems, armored recovery vehicles, limang support vehicles, tactical radios, ground mobility equipment (light, medium, heavy), individual weapons, crew-served weapons, at night-fighting equipment for the Army; multi-role fighters, radar systems, light and medium lift aircraft, heavy lift helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters (attack and combat utility), special mission at long-range patrol aircraft for the Air Force; frigates, corvettes, submarines, amphibious assault vehicles, anti-submarine helicopters, attack craft, medium lift helicopters at multi-role vessels para sa Navy.

Samantala, ikinokonsidera rin ng ahensiya ang pagkakaroon ng combat engineer, force protection, explosive ordnance disposal, gayundin ang humanitarian assistance, at ang disaster relief at medical equipment.