Section 5Sec./Art. 5

Development of AFP Capabilities. - the AFP modernization program shall be geared towards the development of the following defense capabilities:

a. Development of naval defense capability - Given the archipelagic nature of the Philippines, the Philippine Navy (PN) shall develop its capabilities for naval defense, amphibious warfare, sealift and transport, and surface warfare; naval gunfire support, detection and maritime surveillance, search and rescue, disaster response as well as capabilities for anti-air, anti-submarine and mi

1. Develop its capabilities for naval defense;

2. Conduct amphibious operations for both military and civilian relief operations;

3. Defend the Philippine territorial seas, all its internal waters, as well as its 200-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ), from all forms of illegal intrusion or passage;

4. Protect all submarine-based lines of domestic and international communication;

5. Identify all vessels and monitor all kinds of surface and submarine passage through Philippine territorial waters;

6. Protect and preserve, through the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), all coastal, near-coastal and riparian living and nonliving marine resources;

7. Provide transportation of personnel and materiel in times of natural disaster and rescue operations; and

8. Provide, and if practicable, manufacture, through Filipino skills and technology, its own requirements for sea-craft and infrastructure supply and maintenance.

b. Development of air defense capability - the Philippine Air Force (PAF), being the country's first line of external defense, shall develop its air defense capability by acquiring multi-role aircraft, air munitions, avionics, point and area defense missile system, maritime patrol and reconnaissance, and early warning and control system, as well as capabilities for strategic and battlefield airlift and limited ground attack in support of surface forces. the enhanced air defense capability shall enable the AFP to:

1. Detect, identify, intercept and engage, if necessary, any aircraft illegally intruding into or passing through Philippine airspace, up to areas near or around Philippine territorial limits;

2. Provide air support to Philippine ground and naval armed forces;

3. Provide airlift, search and rescue, rapid deployment and related support in combat as well as disaster and other civilian relief operations; and

4. Provide, and if practicable, manufacture, through Filipino skills and technology, its own requirements for aircraft and infrastructure supply and maintenance.

c. Development of ground defense capability - the fragmented nature of Philippine land territory requires the Philippine Army (PA) to develop its capabilities for ground defense and internal security as well as its capability for assistance to national development, search and rescue operations, relief and rehabilitation, natural resources and environmental protection. the enhanced army defense capabilities shall enable the AFP to:

1. Locate and maintain adequate ground forces in strategic sites in the major islands of the country capable of carrying-out independent or joint defense operations;

2. Transport personnel and equipment rapidly through all kinds of terrain in all kinds of weather conditions;

3. Conduct disaster relief and civilian engineering and construction operations;

4. Monitor compliance with the enforcement, as the proper government agency may require, all laws relating to the preservation and protection of forest, wildlife and mineral resources; and

5. Provide, and if practicable, manufacture, through Filipino skills and technology, its own requirements for personnel and infrastructure supply and maintenance.

d. Development of general headquarters capability - the modernization of the AFP further requires the development of the general headquarters capabilities for command, control, communications, and information systems network.