The Philippines needs more funds to boost its defense capacity in the South China Sea, the National Security Council (NSC) told a House of Representatives committee on Wednesday amid the increasing presence of Chinese militia ships at Whitsun Reef. “A big way forward actually is developing [our] capacity so that we develop a credible defense posture and our support to the government in the area,” NSC Assistant Director-General Francis Jude S. Lauchengco told the House special committee on the West Philippine Sea. The committee asked the military to submit a “written concrete proposal” on the funding needed by the task force.

Cruz, B. M. D. (2023, December 7). Philippine security council seeks funds to boost South China Sea presence. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.