FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — The Philippines cannot afford to be timid in building its defense capabilities, Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. has warned, saying the country risks falling behind if it fails to act decisively.

Speaking at the Philippine Military Academy's (PMA) 128th Foundation Anniversary on Saturday, Mr. Teodoro, who has headed the Department of National Defense since 2023, challenged the academy to pursue bolder development plans and strengthen military education to produce combat-ready officers for the Armed Forces of the Philippines' (AFP) three service branches (the Army, the Navy and the Air Force) and, within three years, the Philippine Coast Guard, the maritime service responsible for safety, security and law enforcement in the country's waters.

Graduates, he said, "must possess the knowledge, military ethics and tactical skills needed for immediate deployment."

The defense chief cautioned that rapid technological advances, shifting security threats and the weaponization of information demand more adaptable military leadership and stronger institutional capabilities. National defense, he stressed, extends beyond combat and relies equally on intelligence, logistics, personnel welfare and other support functions.

"Every graduate of this institution is a war fighter," he said.

Mr. Teodoro called for faster modernization, better infrastructure and expanded training facilities to strengthen the military's ability to operate across the country's vast maritime domain, which spans an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, amid growing regional security challenges. The Philippines, he said, must build the capabilities needed to enforce its laws and protect its national interests.

He also pushed for a multidisciplinary, continuously updated PMA curriculum, emphasizing that education builds knowledge while training develops practical skills. He called for merit-based standards in advanced education and research, saying academic excellence must drive professional development once access to educational opportunities is ensured.

Mr. Teodoro further urged the PMA to extend education and training beyond Fort del Pilar to address operational demands and infrastructure gaps affecting logistics, external defense and disaster response.

He also challenged cadets and military leaders to understand the purpose of their missions and communicate it clearly through the chain of command, stressing the AFP's duty to defend the country's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. — Artemio A. Dumlao

Source: BusinessWorld — https://bworldonline.com/the-nation/2026/10/25/789075/phl-may-fall-behind-defense-buildup/