PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino 3rd on Friday vowed to pour more resources to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) so that the military can continue upgrading its assets and achieve a respectable defense capability to enable it to protect the country from external threats.

“Because of your sacrifices, rest assured that you will have the continuous support of the government and the Filipino people,” President Aquino said in Filipino during the 77th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces.

The government has released over P28 billion for the modernization of the Armed Forces.

The President said that the new AFP Modernization Act, which was recently signed into law, is the key to a modern and stronger military.

Republic Act 10349 amends Act 7898 or the AFP Modernization Act, extending it for another 15 years with a P75-billion initial budget for the first five years of implementation.

Aquino said that the P75-billion would only be used to acquire modern armaments and to train members of the Armed Forces.

“Ibig sabihin, tapos na po ang yugto kung saan, sabi nga po ng iba, puro ‘air’ at walang ‘force’ ang Hukbong Himpapawid [This means that the chapter is over where, some say, our Air Forces is all ‘air’ and no ‘force’],” he said.

“Tapos na rin po ang araw kung kailan mas pinangangambahan po ng Hukbong Dagat ang tetanus mula sa mga kinakalawang na barko kaysa sa mga banyagang umaangkin sa ating teritoryo. Ihanda na po ang mga daungan para sa mga moderno’t dekalidad na barko ng Navy na magtatanggol sa ating mga baybayin [Gone, too, are the days when our Navy feared tetanus from rusting ships more than foreigners claiming our territory. Let us prepare the ports for the modern and quality ships of the Navy that will defend our seas],” he added.

With the Armed Forces modernization now on full blast, Aquino said that modern sea vessels would soon dot the country’s sea-lanes.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. Lauro Catalino dela Cruz, Air Force chief, said that the military and the defense department headed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin are in the process of finalizing the list of priority equipment and armaments of the three major services, which would be submitted to the President for his approval.

“With a limited budget, we’re trying to maximize and get the most and at the same time get something that is really worth it,” dela Cruz said, adding that they were eyeing the acquisition of brand new sky assets from Italy and France.

He admitted though that it would take years before the Air Force would be able to develop its own fleet of supersonic fighter jets.

“It’s not like buying a car wherein in you just go to a car dealer. The minimum is 18 months because they have to build it. It started from zero, they developed it between 18 months to 24 months,” dela Cruz explained.