While Army chief Lt.
Gen. Alexander Yano was coy about the cost of such recruitment when he
announced the troop build-up, Escudero, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Ways and Means has come forward to provide the price
tag of "the Philippine version of the surge”.
Escudero was referring
to the term the Bush administration used in beefing up US troops in
Iraq.
The senator clarified
that he is not against any increase in the troop ceiling of the Armed
Forces, "provided that appropriations are authorized by Congress."
"This presupposes the
need for the military to explain the reasons for additional personnel
before members of Congress. Those who allocate the money must be
convinced that there is really a need for such an expense," Escudero
said.
Escudero said the
right way to do it is through an item in the national budget. He said
the executive cannot just write a check for P3 billion without
the prior authority granted by the legislature.
He came up with the
cost of "the surge" by digging up documents submitted by the
Philippine Army and the Department of National of Defense in the
course of the House and Senate deliberations on the 2008 national
budget.
The Army has a
proposed budget of P26.1 billion for 2008 – about half of the DND's
requested outlay of P51.1 billion – but wanted P7.8 billion more "to
further enhance its capability and operation readiness."
The biggest item in
the Army's proposed P7.8 billion "supplemental budget" is about
P5.9 billion to "activate 12 additional infantry battalions," of
about 6,000 men.
But based on Yano's
statement last week, this has been pared by half, to 3,000 men, or six
battalions of 500 officers and enlisted personnel each.
Using the Army's
"costing in mobilizing a battalion," Escudero said the
3,000 additional troops will require P2.98 billion, or P786 million in
initial year's salary and allowances, P364 million in "maintenance and
other operating expenses" or MOOE, and P1.832 billion in "capital
outlays."
MOOE covers
ammunition, food, clothing, gasoline and electricity while capital
outlays include equipment, barracks, buildings and vehicles.
"There are also
long-term fiscal implications because of the pension of these soldiers
when they retire," he said. Pension of retired uniformed personnel is
appropriated yearly, which this year will reach P60 billion.
Escudero said
"congressional discussion" on the "aim, logic, and cost" of the mulled
troop build-up will ferret out the "merits of such an approach in
defeating insurgency."
"Is it the quantity
of troops or the quality that we want? Have we already maximized the
talent and potential of those already on the frontlines by giving them
better weaponry, abundant supplies and other material that will
improve their morale and their efficiency?" Escudero asked.
