THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is modifying further its modernization program with a view to providing the military with the capabilities to protect the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or 200 nautical miles from its coast.
Meanwhile, the forging of a strategic partnership between Philippines and Australia recently has strengthened bilateral relations between the two countries, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo said on Monday.
Undergoing the changes is Horizon 3 of the AFP Modernization Program, military chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. told reporters.
The reconfiguration, Brawner said, was in accordance to recommendations by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. shortly after taking over the defense portfolio last June from then Defense Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez Jr. who was reappointed as Presidential Peace Adviser.
“When the SND (Secretary of National Defense) was appointed, he saw Horizon 3 and told us to revisit or in his words “rehorizon” it, Brawner said.
“So we looked at it and found out Horizon 3 was made prior to the events that happened (in the West Philippine Sea) such as the water cannoning and laser pointing. Parang ang focus nya was territorial defense in depth yun yung luma na strategy (So we looked at it, the original Horizon 3 was made prior to the events that happened, the water cannoning, laser pointing, His focus was like territorial defense in depth, that’s the old strategy,” Brawner added.
He was referring to the incidents where the Chinese tried to interfere with Philippine resupply missions to its detachment aboard the BRP Sierra Madre which is keeping watch over Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Brawner pointed out that the original Horizon 3 was made with “territorial defense in depth” in mind, meaning the military has to wait for threats to happen before engaging them with the “first, second, third, and fourth line of defense”.
“But this time because of what’s happening, proactive tayo. So sabi ni SND says we need to be proactive, and we project outwards our defenses,” Brawner said.
Under the modification, defensive efforts will focus on defending the Philippines’ EEZ and not only the country’s baselines or coasts.
Brawner said this refocus is akin to the United States’ defense strategy of “forward defense” where threats are contained or repulsed as far away as possible.
In this shift, he said the AFP aims to protect Philippine-held islands in the WPS which he identified as Pag-asa, Panata, Parola, Likas, Patag and Lawak.
Aside from these islands, the country is also occupying four other structures in the WPS– Kota Island, Likas Island, Rizal Reef, and Ayungin Shoal.
Brawner said the AFP needs equipment capable of projecting defenses forward to carry out this mission.
“So we need multirole-fighters (MRFs), naval vessels, and submarines to be able to protect not only the WPS, but also the North and East such as the Philippine Rise,” Brawner said.
Under Horizon 3, which is currently undergoing changes, Brawner said there were plans to increase the numbers of MRFs from the initial 12 units as planned earlier.
The AFP chief did not specify how many MRFs will be added as the Air Force is still finalizing on the actual numbers.
Horizon 3 was initially scheduled for implementation from 2023 to 2028 while Horizon 2 was from 2018 to 2022 and Horizon 1 from 2013 to 2017. But he stressed
that these are “more potent” and have “more numbers.”
Speaking at a forum in Adelaide on Monday, Manalo stressed the growing cooperation between the two countries after 77 years of diplomatic relationship.
“This new appellation reflects not only the strength of our partnership, but also the depth of our interests and our commitment to the role and responsibilities of the Philippines-Australia relationship in our evolving geopolitical landscape,” Manalo said.
The DFA Secretary noted that defense is a “cornerstone” of Philippines-Australian cooperation.
“Next to the United States, Australia is the Philippines’ second-largest partner in defense and security cooperation and one of only two Status of Visiting Forces Agreement partners. This focuses on counter-terrorism, maritime security as well as the Modernization Program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
As the defense ties of the two country are “ever on guard to ensure that the threat of militancy and terrorism do not ever again disturb the peace of our communities,” Manalo expressed hopes Manila and Canberra “will always find anchor in our common resolve to contribute to promoting and preserving a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.”
Manalo also believed that the Philippines must sustain the confidence and dynamism it has with Australia in terms of trade.
This came as Australia emerged as the Philippines’ 14th major trading partner in 2022, while it is also consistently among the top 15 sources of foreign investments in the Philippines, Manalo said.
“Further expansion is foreseen in light of regional economic integration initiatives, and tailwinds of the post- pandemic resurgence in the Indo-Pacific economies,” he said.
Manalo also noted that Australia’s support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional bloc among Southeast Asian nations where the Philippines belongs to, especially that the latter “holds the distinction as ASEAN’s first dialogue partner as well as its first Comprehensive Strategic Partner.”
The country’s top diplomat said he trusts that the Philippines-Australia relations will strengthen the support of such a rules-based regional architecture.
Manalo pushed for other areas to work on with Australia, such as advancing climate-smart, green transition, and economic development oriented to sustainability, resilience and inclusion.
“For the Philippines, advancing the bilateral relationship means its being more people- focused,” Manalo said.
“This is done through outcomes that generate jobs and impact on communities, whether through resilient health systems, food security, disaster resilience, safe cyberspace for children, and sound environment,” he added.