A mass is held for volunteers, members of the media and about a hundred fisherfolk that will join the second civilian supply mission at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, during a send off in Botolan, Zambales on May 14, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

A mass is held for volunteers, members of the media and about a hundred fisherfolk that will join the second civilian supply mission at Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea, during a send off in Botolan, Zambales on May 14, 2024. The mission intends to provide assistance to fishermen in Bajo de Masinloc, which is being contested by the Philippines and China. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

WPS-ATIN ITO

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

&ldquo;This whole issue with cybercrime and cyber warfare is real and apparent. And we also have to find out where our defense capabilities in this specific sector lie. Are we capable of actually protecting data, are we actually able to say that we can protect the information of Filipinos against cyber warfare. I think this is also another defense issue that should be tackled in the upcoming budget,&rdquo; Suarez added.<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/15/coast-guard-plane-spots-chinese-ships-near-scarborough-1736">READ: Coast Guard plane spots Chinese ships near Scarborough</a>House Deputy Majority Leader and TINGOG Party List Representative Jude Acidre, for his, part said the Armed Forces of the Philippines should also assess its capability, set targets, and report to Congress the progress on its modernization plan.&ldquo;With everything that is happening in the West Philippine Sea and in the light of the recurring geopolitics, it is only imperative and logical that we also assess the military capability of our country&hellip; Ngayong budget hearing it would be a good opportunity not only for the AFP to propose which items to be funded, but also for members of Congress to ask ano ba talaga ang level of capability na gusto ma-achieve ng military, ano pang kailangan natin gawin, and by when natin kailangan ma-deliver &lsquo;yung level of capability na ganyan,&rdquo; he explained.&ldquo;Kailangan lang talaga klaruhin din ng AFP. Hindi naman pwede pumupunta sa Congress for the budget hearing na may wish list lang sila. Dapat may report card din. And I think that would be a fair way to go in supporting the AFP modernization program,&rdquo; Acidre added.<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/5/15/atin-to-says-3-major-goals-of-civilian-mission-achieved-so-far-1712">READ: Atin &#39;To says 3 major goals of civilian mission achieved so far</a>SATELLITE IMAGERY MONITORINGSome lawmakers from the majority bloc at the House of Representatives, meanwhile, welcomed the plan to monitor the West Philippine Sea using satellite imagery through a cooperation between the Philippines and the United States. But they said this should not be used as an excuse to heighten tension on the disputed waters.&ldquo;I think it shouldn&rsquo;t be a subject of further conflict, kasi, this kind of technology is available to everyone and many companies, private or even government entities have already put up satellites in the sky that image the earth&hellip; Everybody can access satellite imagery naman nowadays. To us at least we are trying to monitor our territory, our waters and I think this would be very beneficial to us,&rdquo; House Committee on Information and Communications Technology Vice Chairperson and Davao Oriental 2nd District Representative Cheeno Almario said.&ldquo;Definitely, it&rsquo;s a welcome development&hellip; Hindi po dapat ito makakadagdag sa tensiyon sa West Philippine Sea. Kasi unang-una, tumitingin lang naman po tayo, satellite imagery di ba? It&rsquo;s just a little bit about the situation awareness. Wala naman tayong offensive maneuvers. It does not give us offensive capabilities. It&rsquo;s only supposed to expand our capability to react and respond to anything that happens within our territory&hellip; Hindi po ito rason para gamitin na panggatong sa tension sa West Philippine Sea,&rdquo; 1-RIDER Party List Representative Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez added.RELATED VIDEO:<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z_2LWx3iaaQ?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>

MANILA &mdash; The Philippines should allocate a budget of at least 5 percent its gross domestic product on beefing up the country&rsquo;s defense capabilities, amid heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea, according to House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David &ldquo;Jay-Jay&rdquo; Suarez.&ldquo;It is necessary that we invest heavily in defense for obvious reasons. Nakikita naman natin &lsquo;yung mga nangyayari sa ating bansa, nangyayari sa ating mundo. Hindi naman sa ninanais natin magkaroon ng kaguluhan o anumang hidwaan sa mga bansa. Kaso lang ang nais natin siguraduhin at pananatilihin ay ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino ay secured and that we&#39;re able to defend our sovereignty, and that we&rsquo;re able to make sure that we are able to protect the rights and the freedom of the Filipinos,&rdquo; he said in a press conference on Wednesday.

The Philippines should allocate a budget of at least 5 percent its gross domestic product on beefing up the country’s defense capabilities, amid heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea, according to House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jay-Jay” Suarez.

The Philippines should allocate a budget of at least 5 percent its gross domestic product on beefing up the country’s defense capabilities, amid heightened tension in the West Philippine Sea, according to House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jay-Jay” Suarez.

Lawmaker says PH should allocate at least 5% of GDP on defense, amid issues in West PH Sea | ABS-CBN News

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Lawmaker says PH should allocate at least 5% of GDP on defense, amid issues in West PH Sea

Lawmaker says PH should allocate at least 5% of GDP on defense, amid issues in West PH Sea