Over the last eight years, the total funding for the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program has grown by 150 percent. Philstar reported that Php 30 billion in 2018 increased to Php 75 billion in 2025. It observed that the share of unprogrammed or standby funds also saw its biggest increase during these past eight years, growing eightfold from Php 5 billion in 2018 to Php 40 billion in 2025.

The Philippines as a US adjunct in Asia comes with a hefty price tag. In the third and “final” phase of the three-phased modernization program (the first was under Aquino 2, the second under Duterte), Marcos Jr approved a revised modernization plan. The previous Horizon 3 or third phase covering 2023 to 2028 becomes Re-Horizon 3 covering a decade with a Php 2 trillion or roughly $35 billion price tag.

The obedient puppet of imperialist US seeks to accelerate the AFP modernization program at a pace unseen in previous years. Previous modernization tranches have already cost the Filipinos billions while laying the groundwork for the latest shopping pressure. Under Duterte the guaranteed funds for AFP shopping from 2018 to 2022 ranged from Php 25 billion to Php 29 billion. Under Marcos Jr the guaranteed funds were increased sharply to Php 35 billion in 2025 and Php 40 billion in 2024. Should the Department of Budget Management (DBM) manage to gather funds elsewhere (i.e., perhaps if they reduce some of the kickbacks of some of their political rivals) in 2025, the AFP modernization program stands to get another Php 40 billion in funding.

In May 2025 the AFP convened a high-level meeting with then Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Budget Secretary Amena Pangandaman, and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto to discuss financing not only to fund but also to fast track the AFP modernization program. Add to this, to fund the AFP’s newly established “Self-Reliance Defense Posture Program” where they seem to be hatching with US a plan to manufacture or assemble in the country some of the equipment and ammunition it would need especially if war breaks out in the Asia Pacific.

Shopping list of a proxy

Halfway into his term, the US-Marcos Jr regime has already ordered the following killing machines:

> Additional 12 FA-50 combat aircraft. Overpriced at more than U$700 million when the reactionary government issued a Notice to proceed (formalizing the contract to buy), these aircraft would have made the AFP’s fleet to a total of 24, a “full squadron” by 2030. But last March, one of it crashed in Bukidnon.

> Upgrading of existing fleet or currently the 11 FA-50 of the Philippine Air Force through a separate initiative under Re-Horizon 3 worth approximately U$95.4 million.

> Additional 6 A-29 B Super Tucanos currently being built by Brazilian defense major Embraer which delivered the first six A-29 Tucanos amid the pandemic in 2020. The first six were ordered under a Php 5 billion or roughly U$100 million contract.

> New air defense systems

The AFP procured Air Surveillance Radar System and ground-based air defense systems from Japan. In 2023, the Philippines was the first country to receive assistance from Japan’s then newly created Official Security Assistance (OSA) when it received Japan’s assistance for U$ 4 million in maritime domain awareness radars. In 2024, Japan reportedly allotted U$10.6 million for unspecified number of coastal radar systems and rigid-hulled inflatable boats for the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy. Even the previously ordered four air defense radars through $103 million deal in 2020 will reportedly be covered by Japan OSA. Of these four, one was already delivered in 2023.

> Two new Miguel Malvar-class Corvettes currently being built in South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries for U$ 478 million to be delivered from this year to 2028. BRP Miguel Malvar, delivered in 2023, is a modern corvette equipped with advanced surface and air surveillance capabilities.

> Modernizing cyber infrastructure. For what the AFP Chief of Staff Gen Romeo Brawner called as networked warfare, the AFP has also been spending tons of money to procure or upgrade programs integrating command and control systems, drones, and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) tools to ground operations. At the same time the AFP is also spending money in tactical radio systems, satellite communication, and logistics management platforms.

> Training and indoctrinating the AFP. The most visible drills and operations happen during Balikatan, Salaknib and other war drills held in the country where local reactionary troops “train” or conduct operations under the guise of war exercises with US, Australian, and Japanese troops. In simulating joint air and sea operations, local troops are familiarized with who the imperialist masters target as enemies and who really wields the command in battle, under the concept of “interoperability.” There are training in using the hardware and software provided to the AFP under loan or other assistance contracts.

> Six new and upcoming Rajah Sulayman class offshore patrol vessels. The modular tower-array sonar system for three of these cost Php 2.40 billion or U$35 million.

> Five more 97-meter long patrol vessels, ordered by the AFP in May 2024, the largest military maritime deal so far between the Philippines and Japan. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through its the Official Development Assistance (ODA) the $507 million loan covers the U$425 million for constructing the five vessels and the rest for a five-year integrated logistics support package. These five will join the two ordered from Japan in 2020 and delivered in 2022—now BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino, in use for patrol and war games.

> The US has approved the sale of 20 units of overpriced F-16 aircraft (U$5.5 billion), training helicopters with simulators and other training equipment (U$120 million) and Typhon Missiles. Of these, the Typhon missile system has now been permanently stationed in the Philippines.

> Various infrastructure, equipment for military use. Since 2016 the Philippine Coast Guard received via loan from JICA 12 Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRV) from Japan. It is now being deployed in South China Sea and in resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre.

Some reports from US Naval Institute (USNI) said the US is set to fund and construct a fast boat base in Quezon, Palawan under similar specification for what it has been building in Oyster Bay, also in Palawan, with additional storage and even conference rooms. In 2024 in the same compound in Quezon, Palawan the US contracted for building a two-storey military barracks. The USNI report said the base should be ready in time for the “arrival and initial use” of rigid-hulled inflatable boats and assault boats.

Upgraded shopping for whom

The reactionary AFP is expectedly making a lot of noise for the pivot to external defense, the justification for this latest costly shopping package of the AFP modernization program. So far their record of standing up, if is it qualified as standing up for what they call as Philippine sovereignty, is parroting the US imperialist line of maintaining freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. And, warning China on behalf of US.

Ultimately, it is the Filipino people who will pay the bill: The fisherfolk are frequently deprived of opportunities to fish. Joint exercises harm the environment both of land and seas. Farmers and fishers complained and protested how the increased military build-up has been infringing on their livelihood, polluting and destroying the ecosystem in the environment, and destroying as well the culture in the vicinity. The military build-up is also maxing the capacity of the reactionary troops to impose martial law-like situation in many regions of the country. ### (Pinky Ang)