00:00The Department of National Defense, or DND, is calling for updated strategies to modernize the armed forces of the Philippines.
00:08Amid fast-changing regional tensions, officials stress the importance of sustained investments in military assets and infrastructure.
00:16Our Patrick DeJesus provides us more.
00:20Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has an appeal to lawmakers to once again amend the AFP Modernization Program.
00:28A revision was made back in 2012, dividing the program into various horizons over a span of 15 years.
00:36Alam natin na nag-o-obsolite ang mga kagamitan in a much shorter time.
00:42Walang bansa sa mundo na may independent foreign policy na walang malakas na sandatahan.
00:51Kasi ang kapayapaan, ang independensya, hindi yan libre.
00:59Pinaglalabanan yan or pinaghahandaan upang walang tangkang guluhin ito.
01:08Teodoro also asserted the need for increased support for military bases to accommodate the arrival of additional assets.
01:16Featured in the first ever self-reliant defense posture forum was an exhibit showcasing models of locally manufactured equipment, particularly unmanned surface vessels.
01:28One of the priorities under the revitalized SRDP is drone technology due to modern threats and this decision is supported by an expert.
01:39Ang strategy ng malaki nating kapitbahay is yung swarming.
01:44If we multiply this, at least we can counter them when it comes to swarming strategy.
01:51And at the same time, if we can perfect it, there's a possibility for the Philippines to at least export some of these products.
01:58With the genius of the Filipinos in coming up and creating with drones, I think we can compete with that kind of market.
02:07There is growing confidence in the capability of Filipinos to develop this kind of defense technology which will be further strengthened through the SRDP.
02:16What we can do in the defense level is that we can get some investors that would like to and would be interested to invest to those technologies coming from schools.
02:30We have very good or very brilliant scientists and engineers and of course the resources of what we have here in the Philippines.
02:40Last year, President Ferdinand R. Marcus Jr. signed the revitalized SRDP law to support the local defense industry which is also expected to help boost the country's economy.
02:53Patrick De Jesus from the National TV for a new and better Philippines.
