SEN. Panfilo Lacson on Thursday pledged budgetary support to enable the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to develop drone capabilities for defense.
Lacson gave the assurance to AFP chief of staff Gen. Antonio Nafarrete, saying that drones could provide the Philippines with a more practical and affordable defense capability compared to more expensive platforms such as warships and long-range missiles. “I just want to find out some details so that when we start budget deliberations, we can support the program if you have a tangible program to develop drones. Drones are the only practical option we have against external aggression, considering our situation,” Lacson said at the confirmation hearing of AFP officials at the Commission on Appointments (CA). Nafarrete, whose appointment was confirmed by the panel, said the AFP is already undertaking efforts to develop drones, with the major services conducting research and development on how the technology will be deployed and employed. The drones will then be integrated into the AFP’s overall system, Nafarrete said. “Glad to hear that. If you have budgetary requirements, kindly inform us because the National Expenditure Program has been transmitted to Congress. So give us the requirements with some specifications, and we will move to justify them in the budget.Also, the House members of the CA are here, and we will support your program on drone development,” Lacson said. He said any budget augmentation for the AFP would have to go through institutional amendments, or legitimate changes to the budget involving programs and projects that have undergone planning and vetting, and are based on requests from the implementing agencies concerned. Asked about the AFP’s plans to acquire drones, Nafarrete said the project is already at an advanced stage, although he did not provide details on the type, number, cost or possible suppliers of the unmanned systems being considered. Nafarrete’s remarks underscore the AFP’s growing interest in unmanned aerial systems as part of efforts to improve the country’s ability to monitor its territory and maritime domain, gather intelligence and respond more effectively to emerging security threats.Drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles, can provide the military with surveillance and intelligence-gathering capabilities while reducing risks to personnel involved in reconnaissance missions. Depending on their configuration, such systems may also support maritime domain awareness, disaster response, border monitoring and other security operations. Nafarrete said the AFP continues to work with partner countries on initiatives that could enhance its capabilities, including the development of its drone program.
