Medialdea says gov’t to seek additional funds for military due to Marawi fighting

July 22, 2017

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea said President Rodrigo Duterte will seek additional funds for the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) as its budget has "depleted" because of the ongoing armed conflict in Marawi City. "The president will provide it in his forthcoming budget," he said, referring to a supplemental budget for the AFP. During the joint special session of Congress,  asked by Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez if the budget of the AFP for third quarter has been depleted due to the Marawi battle, Medialdea replied: "That's true sir according to the chief of staff." Suarez noted that the rebellion in Marawi City was not expected when the budget for this year was approved during the previous year. "When we deliberated the budget of the AFP last year, we did not foresee this event, we do not expect that Marawi would explode so I would expect that by this time your third quarter budget for the armed forces is already depleted," Suarez said. “So if there is a need for us to continue supporting this war and make use of supplemental budget, I suggest that the executive write the official letters request both houses for an adaption for the use of the supplemental budget," he added. According to Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the government has allotted 130.6 billion pesos budget for 2017, which is 15 percent higher than the 2016 budget, for the AFP. Robina Asido/DMS