Resolution Urging Duterte to Increase Defense Spending to 2% GDP Pending at House

30 Juli 2018

M113 of the PA (photo : rhk111)

House Resolution 1379, a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to allot a budget equivalent to 2% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to effectively increase the country’s defense spending at par with ASEAN neighbors, is currently pending at the House of Representatives.

The resolution was proposed by Magdalo Part-list Representative Gary Alejano in October 2017.

“Mandato ng Sandatahang Lakas ang protektahan ang tao at ang estado. Tungo dito, inihain ng representanteng ito ang HR 1379 noong Oktubre 2017, na layuning itaas ang budget para sa defense spending ng bansa,” ALejano said.

“Kasalukuyan itong inaaral ng Committee on National Defense and Security ng House of Representatives,” he added.

“[D]espite the enactment of Republic Act No. 7898 in 1995 or the “AFP Modernization Act”, and the passage of Republic Act No. 10349 or the “Revised AFP Modernization Act” in 2012, the procurement of crucial defense materials were insignificant and, sadly, the Armed Forces of the Philippines still remains among the least capable militaries in the region,” says in the proposed resolution.

(Mintfo)