Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro warned that the Philippines could lose parts of its maritime and land territories if it fails to assert its sovereignty, urging Congress to boost the Department of National Defense (DND) budget for 2026.
Speaking before the Senate finance committee, Teodoro compared inaction in the West Philippine Sea and Benham Rise to neglected real estate, saying, “If we don’t move first, others will beat us to it.”
He pushed for funding to strengthen the DND’s strategic basing program, which aims for full coverage of the country’s exclusive economic zone, including a stronger Army presence in Palawan, a key defensive area.
Teodoro cited manpower and equipment shortages, stressing the need for “mobility, unpredictability, and flexibility” to protect national security and respond to disasters.
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reaffirmed that Philippine sovereignty over its territories, including Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group, remains “incontrovertible” under international law.
Source: PhilNews24 | October 8, 2025
