MANILA — The Philippines is planning a 25 percent hike in its defense budget next year, mainly to bolster its claims in the disputed South China Sea, officials said Tuesday.
The proposed 2016 national budget, which President Benigno Aquino is to present to parliament for approval on Monday, would reserve a record 25 billion pesos (US $552 million) for defense spending.
Funds would be used to acquire navy frigates and patrol aircraft, budget and defense officials told AFP.
"We need to protect what is clearly within our territorial jurisdiction," Budget Secretary Florencio Abad said, when asked if the increase was due to the Philippines' maritime row with China.
"Certainly, we need to at least be able to effectively monitor the developments in the area, particularly those in disputed zones," he added.
Under the 3 trillion peso budget bill, defense spending would be up from a 20 billion peso military budget last year and five times bigger than in 2013, the officials said.
The proposed 2016 defense budget is part of a five-year, 75 billion peso military modernization program approved by Aquino in 2013, Abad said.
The amount would still be dwarfed by China, which claims most of the South China Sea, including areas close to the shores of its Asian neighbors. Beijing budgeted US $142.9 billion for its military this year.
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