MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino on Wednesday questioned why there was no funding for the creation of naval chain stations in Batanes and Tawi-Tawi in the 2020 national defense budget despite the rising territorial tension in the West Philippine Sea. What I saw there was it’s a great strategy but it was not included in the budgetary requirements of the DND,” Tolentino said, speaking partly in Filipino. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who defended the budget of the DND, said that the allocation for the facilities Tolentino was referring to could be requested for the 2021 budget. “Kaya ko po ito sinasabi, kung hihintayin pa natin yung 2020 budget call (para sa 2021 budget) baka marami nang dumaan na naman uli na barkong pandigma ang ilang bansa na hindi natin nade-detect,” he added. Lacson also mentioned that the DND was able to estimate for the needed funds for the establishment and maintenance of the naval chain stations.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer November 13, 2019 17:22 UTC