An effigy of President Aquino is wheeled as protesters carrying banners and placards march towards the House of Representatives, where Aquino delivered his 4th State of the Nation Address, in Quezon City yesterday.
MANILA: A new fighter jet will cost government some P1.58bn ($36m), which would be enough to construct 2,000 new classrooms, President Benigno Aquino III said in his State of the Nation Address yesterday.
After recently vowing modernisation for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Aquino backtracked and said budget is better allocated for education or for building thousands of homes for policemen and soldiers.
He added that having a fighter jet is futile if it not part of a squadron of 23 other fighter aircraft costing P37.92bn ($900m) in total.
Moreover, the planes will need fuel, missile systems, radar, ground bases and intercept controls to operate effectively.
The president added that there needs to be a balance in priorities to address the country’s more immediate needs.
Last December, Aquino expressed support to the AFP Modernisation Program providing security forces an initial funding of P75bn ($1.7bn) for reform and acquisition.
The Department of National Defence (DND) also purchased two warships now named BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Gregorio del Pilar the past year. These ships were previously commissioned by the US military.
The funding of the BRP Tagbanua, first locally built landing craft utility, and the acquisition of eight Sokol Combat Utility Helicopters were also completed under the program.
DND, however, has recently gone to market for 12 F/A-50 aircrafts costing P1.58bn per unit. According to a Palace technical report, DND is currently negotiating with Korea for the purchase.
The military, meanwhile, thanked President Aquino for citing the sacrifices of soldiers in his fourth state of the nation address (Sona).
“He (Aquino) recognises the deployment of troops to far-flung areas. The commander-in-chief really sympathises with the soldiers,” Armed Forces public affairs chief Lt Col Ramon Zagala said.
The military also lauded Aquino’s housing projects as well as his efforts to push for reforms in its retirement system.
“We appreciate that the president provided housing for soldiers and the police and his concern for retirees,” Zagala said.
“We appreciate all the directions he is giving us and as soldiers, we believe our commander-in-chief will lead us to the right path,” he added.
While Aquino appeared to be cool to the plan to purchase fighter jets, Zagala believes the president remains supportive of their modernisation efforts.
“What we heard is the president is after a credible defence,” he said.
Aquino may have delivered a lengthy State of the Nation Address (Sona), but a senator from a rival political clan was left wanting for more.
Senator BongBong Marcos said Aquino’s speech failed to mention new policies on various sectors. He said the administration may have chosen not to use the Sona to announce these expected policies.
The senator, whose father was ousted through “people power” led by former President Cory Aquino, said he was looking for the President’s foreign, environmental, monetary, and foreign direct investment policies, among others.
“All of these areas are critical so that the rest of the country knows what direction we are going to take,” he added.
Marcos said he now expects to hear these new policies in the coming days or weeks.
Asked to describe Aquino’s Sona, Marcos said it was a [celebration of] “the heroism of common, ordinary Filipinos.”
Tension gripped the protest action on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City after militant groups tried to force their way to Batasan Pambansa for the president’s Sona.
The groups, led by Bayan, broke through the barricade and spilled to the westbound of the highway near an Ever Gotesco mall, snarling traffic in the area.
The protesters, however, were prevented from going further as anti-riot cops, dump trucks and fire trucks blocked them.
Police ground commanders negotiated with the leaders of the protesters to clear the area and go back to the highway’s eastbound, near the mall where they are allowed to hold a programme.
After several minutes, cops, armed with shield and wooden baton, began pushing protesters, who retaliated by hurling pieces of wood and plastic bottles and rubber slippers.
The protesters were forced back to their designated area as more cops reinforced their ranks after the militant groups tore down the thin iron divider on the centre island.
The Philippine Star
