Non-Subscriber Extract
Philippines uncertain of funding counter-insurgency measures
By Jon Grevatt
30 April 2009
The Philippines government is seeking supplementary funds to be allocated to the army in a bid to eradicate insurgency in the country by the 2010 deadline set by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
The office of Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro confirmed to Jane's on 29 April that at least USD50 million was needed on top of the allocated Fiscal Year 2009 military expenditure of USD1.2 billion, under which the army will receive USD604 million.
Despite the government's call, Rodolfo G Biazon, the chairman of the Philippines Senate's committee on national defence, told Jane's that it was unlikely that Congress would approve more money for defence.