Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday reechoed that the Philippines and Japan are both committed to fast-track the signing of the reciprocal access agreement between the two countries.
"Finally in connection with the visit of the president to Japan and the statement echoed by both heads of State we will work very hard to speed up the signing of a reciprocal access agreement between Japan and the Philippines and we hope to send it for ratification to the Philippine Senate in the soonest possible time," Teodoro said on the sidelines of the turnover and blessing ceremony of the newly acquired Japanese-made air surveillance radar system in San Fernando City, La Union.
The defense chief cited the Philippines as the first beneficiary of the RAA.
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año said the RAA "aligns with the country's efforts" to improve our maritime domain awareness capability, maintain regional stability, and protect the rules based on international order.
He added that the proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa.
Meanwhile, Teodoro vowed to push more serious capability upgrades and modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines will begin once President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the General Appropriation Act of 2024.
"Hindi po tayo umaasa lahat sa ating mga kaalyado, ginagawa din po natin sa sarili natin at mamayang hapon po pipirmahan ang General Appropriations Act ng ating pangulo kung saan mag-uumpisa ang matindi at serious na upgrades ng capabilities ng Armed Forces of the Philippines," he said.
With more funds for the defense sector, Teodoro vowed to continue the AFP's modernization.
"We will continue to harden our facilities, we will continue to upgrade our facilities and equipment," he said.
Teodoro thanked the local government units "for understanding how important it is for the whole nation that within their areas we start to protect our national sovereignty and territorial integrity."
"We are basing on locations not just because we want to but because these are strategic," he said.