MANILA – The Stratbase Institute has called for the accelerated implementation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program, saying it would improve the country’s ability to respond to evolving threats in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement released Sunday ahead of the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award on July 12, the think tank said the Philippines should complement its legal victory with stronger defense capabilities.

“The Arbitral Award gave the Philippines legal standing. The next decade must deliver strategic strength,” Stratbase Institute president and chief executive officer Dindo Manhit said.

Manhit said the country should fast-track the AFP’s transformation into a technologically advanced, multidomain force and fully implement the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept across land, air, sea, cyber and information domains.

He added that protecting the country’s interests in the West Philippine Sea requires more than military capability alone.

“National security today requires a whole-of-society effort involving government, civil society, academia, media, the private sector, faith-based organizations, and international partners working together to strengthen resilience and uphold the rules-based international order,” he said.

The institute also cited the results of a survey conducted in May, which found that 86 percent of Filipinos support the government’s efforts to defend the West Philippine Sea in partnership with like-minded countries and in line with the 2016 arbitral ruling.

“The survey results show that Filipinos understand that defending the West Philippine Sea requires more than legal arguments and diplomatic statements. It requires credible deterrence, stronger partnerships, and national resilience,” Manhit said.

Stratbase Institute said it will hold a high-level forum on July 10 titled “A Decade of the Arbitral Award: Credible Deterrence in Defense of the West Philippine Sea.”

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. is expected to lead the event, which will bring together government officials, diplomats, maritime experts and representatives from civil society.