Sen. Edgardo Angara emphasized that government should ensure the successful implementation of the country’s revised Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program, amid ongoing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea.
Angara was one of those who shepherded the original AFP Modernization Act of 1995 (Republic Act 7898) during the 9th Congress.
The outgoing lawmaker explained that, at the time, Congress’ strategic vision was for the military to protect the country’s territory and natural resources.
“The emphasis (of the original modernization act) was boosting the technology, mobility and communications of the Armed Forces,” said the vice chairman of the Senate committee on foreign affairs, adding that this continues with the Revised AFP Modernization Act (RA 10349) signed last December 2012.
“We hope to do it right this time, especially since we are on the verge of losing territory and our natural resources for lack of capability to protect them,” continued the former UP president.
Angara made the statement in his closing remarks at a ceremony awarding the 2013 University of the Philippines President Edgardo J. Angara (UP PEJA) Fellowship to Professor Herman Joseph Kraft, Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic and Development Studies (ISDS).
Kraft was awarded the fellowship to conduct a policy study on the modernization program of the AFP.
The UP PEJA Fellowship was established in 2008 by the UP Board of Regents during the UP Centennial.
The initiative aims to recognize high-level research conducted by UP intellectuals and spur academic discussion on the country’s development goals and policies.
The first batch of UP PEJA Fellows included Dr. Raul Fabella of the UP School of Economics (UPSE); Dr. Raul Pangalanan of the UP College of Law; and Dr.