Philippines boosts defence spending
The Philippine Congress gave the Department of National Defence (DND) a shot in the arm with a 9.2% increase for the 2016 defence budget.
The budget amounts to PHP126.62 billion (US$2.66 billion), which is a record for the Southeast Asian nation. President Benigno Aquino should sign the national budget into law before year’s end.
Under special presidential approval for multi-year purchases, Aquino has approved $933 million for seven DND projects, some of which had stalled, over the next three fiscal years. Money is being allocated for two light frigates, two anti-submarine warfare helicopters, four long-range surveillance aircraft, amphibious assault vehicles,
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