President Marcos Jr Acknowledges AFP Shortcomings; Calls for Improvement Intensify
The Philippine Navy and Coast Guard went so far in improving its overall capabilities and the number of its vessels, but the acknowledgement stresses the need in investing more in its improvement and attain the desired parameters under the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept or CADC.
THE COMMENTARY
The Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr acknowledges the shortcomings of the Philippine government in its capabilities, highlighting that the country lacks the number of capable ships like destroyers and frigates to put proper deterrence against the ongoing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
This comes in line with the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard pushing up the number of ships in their fleets. As for the former, this will come in a form of upcoming deliveries of the Miguel Malvar-class guided missile frigates and the HDP-2200+ Offshore Patrol Vessels, with the Full Complement Frigate Acquisition Project being in the 2025 pipeline.
As for the latter, the maritime law enforcement agency expects the delivery of five (5) additional Teresa Magbanua-class Multirole Response Vessels (MRRVs), which is included on the forty-six (46) white hulls that they are aiming in the upcoming years. In this number also includes a single 60-meter vessel and the remaining being fast patrol boats.
The acknowledgement now needs to convert into action, as the congress might need to pump additional budget to the Revised AFP Modernization Program from 2026 onwards, assuring military branches like the Philippine Navy and maritime law enforcement like the Philippine Coast Guard will upheld their respective duties and responsibilities at high seas.
The increase and commonality of existing naval and coast guard assets will surely provide both the numbers and capabilities required to uphold the Philippine sovereignty and territorial integrity in areas such as the West Philippine Sea, ensuring the country’s resolve in its active presence and deterrence against any foreign aggression from a larger adversary in the region.
Reference: Inquirer.net (archived link 1) (archived link 2)
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