Mere glossy manifesto?

Mere glossy manifesto? | Daily Tribune

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved for implementation the National Security Strategy (NSS) 2024, which offers Filipinos a seemingly solid, multi-faceted vision of safety, sovereignty and prosperity. At a glance, it’s a slick brochure for a country beset by territorial conflicts and economic vulnerability.

It’s encouraging, yes, but it raises the question: Will this strategy succeed where so many others had failed before? Will the Philippines finally match talk with reality, or will this be the latest installment in the long-running series, “Ambition Meets Apathy?”

Marcos’ NSS checks all the boxes: Human capital development, technology leveraging, institution creation, and South China Sea protection. It even manages to make diplomacy sound appealing.

But let us not get carried away. As most Filipinos know, the path to a secure nation is littered with abandoned projects and unmet promises. Consider the much-vaunted Horizon defense program.

The Horizon program, launched in 2013, was intended to bring the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) into the 21st century one fighter jet at a time. Horizon 1 provided us FA-50PH aircraft, modern frigates, and the appearance of a credible air force.

Horizon 2 raised the bar with Jose Rizal-class frigates and Black Hawk helicopters, providing our military with equipment that would not humiliate them during joint drills. We’re now on Horizon 3, dreaming about multi-role fighters, submarines and powerful cyber systems.

Still, dreams are inexpensive; implementation, not so much. Budget limits, bureaucratic slogs, and political distractions have all contributed to this huge plan’s slow burn — or, maybe, gradual fizzle.

What about the submarines? Still in the planning stages. What about multi-role fighters? Still stuck in discussions. While China is busy converting the West Philippine Sea into its personal pond, we’re still figuring out how to make coastal defense systems work. Is this modernization or a more complicated type of procrastination?

Marcos’ NSS attempts to tie all of these loose ends together. It’s a lovely re-imagining and re-imaging of resilience, solidarity and self-reliance — but experience has taught us to be skeptical.

Previous administrations saw the Horizon program as a ceremonial display rather than a strategic requirement. They purchased certain toys, but they did not establish the institutions to use them properly.

A modern military is more than just ships and planes; it includes strategy, training, and logistics. Without these, our bright new frigates are just floating photo ops.

And then there’s the geopolitical context. China’s intentions are not veiled, and the Philippines has been the target of its water cannons and military-grade lasers.

Our diplomatic protests are righteous, but they will not protect our fishermen. What we need is deterrence — the kind that makes bullies think twice. The Horizon program could provide that, if it weren’t so bogged down by its own inefficiencies.

To his credit, Mr. Marcos appears to be committed to making a difference. His ratification of the NSS demonstrates intent, and his administration’s emphasis on technology and governance is positive. However, intent alone does not constitute action.

The NSS talks a fine game about collaboration and accountability, but we’ve heard these terms for decades. If Marcos wants to break the loop, he must deliver results rather than simply endorse strategies.

This gets us to the final question: Is the NSS a genuine watershed moment, or just another glossy manifesto doomed to collect dust? The solution is in whether the government can finally consider national security as a priority rather than a gimmick.

The AFP does not require more press releases but, rather, multi-role aircraft that can fly, submarines that can submerge, and a coastal defense system that does more than look nice in PowerPoint presentations.

The NSS 2024 envisions a Philippines that is not only secure, but prosperous. It’s a wonderful objective that is worth battling for. But before we pop open the champagne, consider how many times we’ve rejoiced prematurely.

If President Marcos can connect resources and goals and keep his promises, perhaps this time will be different. If not, we’ll be back in 2028 to write another editorial about another technique that could have worked.