JV Ejercito seeks accounting of P90-B AFP modernization funds

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. JV Ejercito called for a detailed accounting of the P90-billion allocation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Program, particularly fund releases, obligations, expenditures, and project implementation.

During the Senate Committee on Finance’s subpanel hearing on the proposed budget of the Department of National Defense (DND) on Monday, Ejercito asked defense officials which military equipment and systems had been delivered and were already being used by Filipino soldiers.

He also asked about the obstacles delaying modernization projects and which capability gaps should be prioritized in the proposed 2027 budget.

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READ: AFP modernization fund to be raised by P10 billion in 2027

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Ejercito expressed the Senate’s support for the DND and the AFP “so that they may continue to defend our sovereignty, protect our territory, and uphold our dignity as a free nation.”

He noted that the Senate had also supported the allocation of additional funds for the AFP Modernization Program.

“Under your current 2026 budget, the combined allocation for the Revised AFP Modernization Program reached P90 billion: P40 billion in programmed appropriations and P50 billion in unprogrammed appropriations. We would like to know how much of these funds has actually been released, obligated, and spent, and what progress has been achieved in our modernization projects as a result,” Ejercito told defense officials.

The Senate panel approved at the committee level the proposed budget of the DND and its attached agencies for fiscal year 2027. /mcm