Senator Win Gatchalian is pushing to sustain higher budgetary support to accelerate the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) modernization efforts and reinforce the country’s external defense posture.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian proposed an additional ₱20 billion for the AFP modernization fund under Programmed Appropriations, on top of the ₱30 billion already placed under Unprogrammed Appropriations.
“Ito ‘yung modernization fund na gagamitin sa pagbili ng mga kagamitan na tutulong sa atin sa pag-shift sa multi-domain external defense posture mula sa internal security strategy,” he said during the deliberations on the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of National Defense (DND).
“Dapat na sumasalamin ang AFP modernization program sa kasalukuyang mga nangyayari sa bansa ngayon, halimbawa ang geopolitical situation sa West Philippine Sea,” the senator added.
Under the Senate version of next year’s national budget, ₱385.97 billion—or about 1.25% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product—has been allocated for the Defense Department.