Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Thursday pledged budgetary support for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to develop drone capabilities for national defense, especially against external aggression.
Lacson gave the assurance to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, noting that drones could provide the Philippines with a more practical and affordable defense capability compared to more expensive platforms such as warships and long-range missiles.
“I just want to find out (some details para) pagdating ng budget deliberations we can support the program, meron talaga kayong tangible program para mag-develop ng drones. Kasi ito lang ang pwede nating panlaban considering our situation (I just want to find out some details so that when we start budget deliberations, we can support the program if you have a tangible program to develop drones. Drones are the only practical option we have against external aggression, considering our situation),” he said at the confirmation hearing of AFP officials at the Commission on Appointments.
“I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships and long-range missiles and the like. Meron ba tayong programa sa development ng drones, in case may external aggression? At least may laban man lang tayo maski wala tayong pera (I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships or acquire long-range missiles and the like. Do we have a program to develop drones against external aggression? At least we have a fighting chance even if we don’t have enough funds),” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson, Nangako ng Suporta sa Badyet para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Drone Capability ng AFP
Nafarrete said the AFP is already undertaking efforts to develop its drone capability, with the major services conducting research and development on how the technology will be deployed and employed.
When Lacson asked whether the AFP was conducting actual testing and whether it was progressing well, he answered in the affirmative. He added the drones will then be integrated into the AFP’s overall system.
“Glad to hear that. And if you have any budgetary requirements, kindly inform us. Kasi padating na ang budget sa Congress, transmitted na sa amin ang NEP. So bigyan nyo kami requirements with some specifications, pa justify natin. Nandito din ang members ng House para masuportahan namin ang programa ninyo sa drone development (Glad to hear that. If you have budgetary requirements, kindly inform us because the National Expenditure Program has been transmitted to Congress. So give us the requirements with some specifications and we will move to justify them in the budget. Also, the House members of the CA are here and we will support your program on drone development),” Lacson replied.
Lacson has long supported the AFP and Department of National Defense in their efforts to defend the Philippines from external threats, including China in the West Philippine Sea.
Meanwhile, Lacson said any budget augmentation he may support would have to go through institutional amendments, or legitimate changes to the budget involving programs and projects that have undergone planning and vetting, and are based on requests from the implementing agencies concerned.
Such amendments may be proposed by lawmakers who find merit in them after vetting with the relevant agencies.
He said he has instructed his staff to review the proposed 2027 budgets of agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture and Department of Transportation, which may contain funds for infrastructure projects that may be vulnerable to questionable insertions.
“Minsan maski alam kong insertion ng congressman kina-cut ko yan para augment sa institutional amendments na napabayaan, at hindi napasama sa National Expenditure Program for some reason (Sometimes even if I am aware that some questionable items were made by some lawmakers, I would have them cut in favor of institutional amendments for agencies whose needs were somehow not included in the National Expenditure Program for some reason),” he said.
“Walang masama kung mag-amend because that’s our mandate. Ang masama ang mag-i-insert ka, mag-amend ka a.k.a. mag-i-insert ka pero ang self-serving, na nag-insert ka kasi kausap na ang contractor (There is nothing wrong with introducing amendments to the budget bill because that is our mandate. What is bad is when you make insertions or amendments that are self-serving, especially when you have made deals with contractors),” he added.
Lacson also said there is no need to give advice to Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito, who he said has assured that he will not allow insertions to the budget bill especially in the bicameral conference committee.
“Ina-assure niya walang ma-insert especially sa bicam (He assured that he will not allow insertions especially during the bicam),” he said.
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Lacson, Nangako ng Suporta sa Badyet para sa Pagpapaunlad ng Drone Capability ng AFP
Nangako si Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Huwebes ng suporta sa badyet para sa pagpapaunlad ng kakayahan ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) na gumamit at bumuo ng mga drone para sa pambansang depensa, lalo na laban sa external aggression.
Ibinigay ni Lacson ang naturang katiyakan kay AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, at sinabi niyang maaaring magbigay ang mga drone sa Pilipinas ng mas praktikal at abot-kayang kakayahan sa depensa kumpara sa mas mamahaling platform gaya ng mga warship at long-range missile.
“I just want to find out (some details para) pagdating ng budget deliberations we can support the program, meron talaga kayong tangible program para mag-develop ng drones. Kasi ito lang ang pwede nating panlaban considering our situation,” aniya sa confirmation hearing ng mga AFP officials sa Commission on Appointments.
“I don’t think we have the wherewithal to build big warships and long-range missiles and the like. Meron ba tayong programa sa development ng drones, in case may external aggression? At least may laban man lang tayo maski wala tayong pera,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi ni Nafarrete na nagsasagawa na ang AFP ng mga hakbang para mapaunlad ang kakayahan nito sa paggamit ng drone, habang nagsasagawa rin ng research and development ang mga major service nito kung paano ide-deploy at gagamitin ang teknolohiya.
Nang tanungin ni Lacson kung nagsasagawa na ang AFP ng aktuwal na testing at kung maayos ang pag-usad nito, sumang-ayon si Nafarrete. Idinagdag niya na kalaunan ay isasama ang mga drone sa kabuuang sistema ng AFP.
“Glad to hear that. And if you have any budgetary requirements, kindly inform us. Kasi padating na ang budget sa Congress, transmitted na sa amin ang NEP. So bigyan nyo kami requirements with some specifications, pa justify natin. Nandito din ang members ng House para masuportahan namin ang programa ninyo sa drone development,” sagot ni Lacson.
Matagal nang sinusuportahan ni Lacson ang AFP at Department of National Defense sa kanilang mga pagsisikap na ipagtanggol ang Pilipinas laban sa mga external threat, kabilang ang China sa West Philippine Sea.
Samantala, sinabi ni Lacson na anumang budget augmentation na susuportahan niya ay kailangang dumaan sa institutional amendments, o mga lehitimong pagbabago sa badyet para sa mga programa at proyektong dumaan na sa pagpaplano at pagsusuri, at batay sa mga kahilingan ng mga implementing agency na nangangasiwa sa mga ito.
Maaari umanong imungkahi ng mga mambabatas ang naturang mga amendment kung nakikita nilang may merito ang mga ito matapos masuri kasama ang mga kaukulang ahensya.
Inatasan ni Lacson ang kanyang staff na suriin ang mga panukalang badyet para sa 2027 ng mga ahensya gaya ng Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Agriculture at Department of Transportation, partikular ang mga proyektong pang-imprastraktura na maaaring maging bulnerable sa kuwestiyonableng mga insertion.
“Minsan maski alam kong insertion ng congressman kina-cut ko yan para augment sa institutional amendments na napabayaan, at hindi napasama sa National Expenditure Program for some reason,” aniya.
“Walang masama kung mag-amend because that’s our mandate. Ang masama ang mag-i-insert ka, mag-amend ka a.k.a. mag-i-insert ka pero ang self-serving, na nag-insert ka kasi kausap na ang contractor,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Lacson na hindi na kailangang payuhan pa si Senate finance committee chairman Jose Victor “JV” Ejercito, na aniya’y nangako na hindi niya papayagan ang mga insertion sa panukalang badyet, lalo na sa bicameral conference committee.
“Ina-assure niya walang ma-insert especially sa bicam,” aniya.
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