Date: June 2003

Bringing Home the Bacon

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo returned from her US visit in the early hours of Sunday 25 May. With her came pledges of increased military assistance and weaponry for the armed forces which many hope will return to the generous levels seen during the time when the United States maintained its bases here but which was reduced to a trickle after the bases were closed in 1991. In particular the military requires more helicopters for tactical mobility, fast patrol boats and coastal vessels- both for the navy and for the over-stretched coastguard (see below) as well as better communications systems.

The US President has offered some $30 million for training and equipment as part of the $356 million pledged in security assistance. Much of this assistance - at least US$123 million - is earmarked for Mindanao. The president gave a breakdown of most of the aid package in her address this past week to the Naval Academy without, however, giving a timetable for the disbursement.

According to comments made to reporters in New York last week, the president said that US military aid was now worth about US$100 million a year and up from only US$1.9 million a year ago. Prior to the rejection by the Philippines senate of a new lease on the US bases back in 1991, the Philippines received around US$200 million a year in military assistance from the US government.

This suggests that a four-year time frame is envisaged for the aid so far promised from the United States.

Where the Money Will be Spent
	US Million
Mindanao
Balikatan 03-1 Training	47
MILF Peace Process	20
Rebel Returnee Program	20
Economic Assistance	30
Sulu Rehabilitation	2
Basilan Island	4
Total for Mindanao	123
General Military Aid
15,000 M16 rifles	10
33 Helicopters	31
plus spare parts	10
Vessel and truck maintenance	20
Counter-terrorism aid	30
plus an allocation for 2004	17
Security and law enforcement assistance	10
Training and equipment for a military engineering brigade	25
Filipino War Veterans	76
Total Accounted For [1]	352

 

[1] An annual allocation of US$500,000 per year has also been made for the Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Over four years this would amount to US$2 million.

 

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