MODERNIZE THE ARMED FORCES FOR THE PHILIPPINES TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL RESPECT

By Bayawanon

The United States is trying to maintain the status quo as the leading military power of the world, Russia is rebuilding her lost military might during its lost glory as a communist state and China is doubling if not tripling her efforts to have one of the strongest military in the modern era for purposes of territorial expansion. These countries are doing their best to be known and respected internationally through their military strength, these things are being done by great countries as part of their so-called POLICY OF PRESTIGE. In conjunction to this, the Philippines must also follow suit in order for her not to be left behind internationally, continentally (Asian continent) and regionally (ASEAN region).

The Philippines must really improve her military prowess so as to strengthen its claims at the Spratly islands, and to possibly defend herself from any foreign aggression and also to easily solve the insurgency problems it is facing. But how can the Philippines improve its national defense when it has shortage of logistics to improve the same? The answer is self help, the Philippines must economize, the same should have her own ship yard in order for its government to build naval ships, if there are many ship yards everywhere in the Philippines for commercial and fishing purposes so why can't the Philippines not build ship yards for naval or military development? If this would happen the Philippine government can economize by not importing ships from foreign countries.

The Philippines need not import guns and ammunition also from other countries for there are Filipinos who are skilled enough to make the same, the Philippine government can easily tap the abilities of the underground gun makers of  Danao City and develop their skills and be producers of the guns and ammunition the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police are badly needing.

Another way for the Philippines to be militarily competitive is to build Junior Military Academies (high school level) which are very prevalent in the United States, in connection to this high school students whose ambitions are to be military officers in the future may enter in the junior military schools/academies which would be funded by the government whose sole purpose is to develop the military skills and leadership of the youth as a prelude to a possible entry to the Philippine Military Academy and Philippine National Police Academy and as a preparation to a possible outstanding military career.

I hope that my propositions may be given an iota of weight by the government for it is my duty as a citizen to be part of developing my own motherland, the land of the Malayan race, the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the Republic of the Philippines. So be it.