By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” C. Teodoro, Jr. has called for more military bases, storage facilities and logistical hubs to support the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) expanding arsenal, warning that modern weapons will be difficult to sustain without the infrastructure to operate them.
Teodoro told the House Committee on Appropriations that years of inadequate capital spending had created a critical gap between the military’s growing inventory of modern equipment and the facilities needed to house, maintain and deploy them.
“The equipment we use is just the tip of the spear,” Teodoro said during deliberations on the Department of National Defense’s proposed 2027 budget. “But without the support systems for those pieces of hardware you see, everything will be just useless because they will be unsustainable.”
The DND is seeking P50 billion for the Revised AFP Modernization Program in 2027.
But the National Expenditure Program provides only P324.632 billion for the DND, 43.32% below its P572.787-billion proposal. The proposed allocation includes P312.777 billion for the AFP, P10.255 billion for civilian bureaus and P1.599 billion for the Office of the Secretary.
Teodoro said modernization cannot be reduced to the acquisition of weapons and military platforms, stressing that infrastructure must keep pace with the AFP’s expanding capabilities.
“Modernization is not merely a question of acquiring capabilities, but also providing adequate infrastructure to support capabilities,” he said.
The DND is prioritizing strategic and logistical bases, particularly in central locations with access to the country’s maritime domain, to strengthen military presence and improve supply lines.
The AFP also needs a wider network of logistical facilities where supplies can be prepositioned for troops deployed in different parts of the country. Teodoro said critical stocks must be distributed among multiple locations to ensure that frontline units can quickly access reserves.
He also stressed that military facilities must be designed to accommodate the increasing size and weight of modern equipment.
Apart from physical infrastructure, the AFP is seeking stronger information technology and cyber capabilities to reinforce command and control.
Teodoro also said the military needs larger rotary-wing aircraft for humanitarian assistance and disaster response, noting that its fleet of about 46 Black Hawk helicopters is not enough for such missions.
The Philippine Navy continues to acquire modern corvettes and frigates, while the Philippine Army is focused on improving mobility and expanding its presence nationwide.
For Teodoro, the challenge facing the AFP is no longer simply acquiring modern military hardware but building the infrastructure and logistical backbone that will keep those capabilities operational and sustainable.
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