Washington: Philippines President Benigno Aquino has been shopping in the US for territorial defence fortification to upgrade his country’s weak naval and air capabilities, following a territorial dispute with China near the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

His arrival in the US was a fitting symbol of stronger Philippines-US defence and security cooperation, observers said.

This was reinforced by Aquino’s visit to Quantico Marine Corps Base, one of the largest US Marine Corps bases in the world, at Washington’s Metropolitan Area. The Guantico complex houses the Marine Corp Combat Development Command; the presidential helicopter squadron, the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s training academy, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Academy; FBI Laboratory; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service headquarters.

The highlight of Aquino’s visit was US’s allotment of $158.8 million (Dh583.3 million) defence assistance to the Philippines.

The amount included $30 million in foreign military financing; $81.5 million in development assistance; $33.8 million in global health programmes;

$1.8 million in international military training education and training; $2.4 million in international narcotics control and law enforcement; and $9.52 million in non-proliferation, anti-terrorism, de-mining and related programmes.

Alleged funding for intelligence equipment to be operated in the South China Sea was not identified.

The Philippine Navy started purchasing from the allocated defence assistance last year. The purchases have shown that the Philippines has started to combine its current anti-insurgency and counter terrorism programme with intentional territorial defence, an expert told Gulf News.

In late May, the Philippine Navy acquired a 378-ft USCG Dallas, a Hamilton-class US Coast Guard cutter, in North Charleston, South Carolina. It was stripped of its weapons, prompting the Philippine government to buy from the US a new weapon system for the bare cutter.

Philippine Navy men are now being trained in the US to man the USCG Dallas. A turnover ceremony in the US last May was attended by Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Jessie Dellosa and Philippine Navy Fleet commander Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano.

USCG Dallas was renamed BRP Ramon Alcaraz, after a torpedo boat commander who shot down nine Japanese fighter planes during World War II in 1942.

Last year, the Philippine Navy bought its first Hamilton-class US Coast Guard cutter. Only a 76 mm Oto Melara automatic cannon remained in the ship, following the dismantling of its old operating system.

Renamed BRP Gregorio del Pilar, it became the country’s biggest warship, but also the oldest in Southeast Asia.

Lack of resources has been blamed for the Philippine Navy and Air Force’s continuous reliance on World War II vintage vessels and aircrafts.

Officials have even opted for a “minimum credible defence posture” for protecting national sovereignty and fighting three large insurgency groups in the country.

Other countries such as Australia, Japan, and South Korea have also offered defence assistance to the Philippines.

Last May, the Japanese government offered 12 patrol boats, 10 of which will be financed by Japan’s official development aid (ODA) and two by grants, said foreign affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario

“We are securing a loan for these vessels,” confirmed Coast Guard head Vice Admiral Edmund Tan.

Last November, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak vowed to assist the Philippines in purchasing aircraft, patrol boats and other naval hardware.

Officials are waiting for the ratification of the Status of the Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFVA) between the Philippines and Australia, which was signed by Philippine Defence Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr and Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson in 2007.

It was Australia’s requirement for the sale of search and rescue vessels, and training of military personnel.

The Philippine government has not released the source of brand new jet fighters it is eyeing to buy.

Senior officials have also decided not to buy a second hand F-16 from the US because of high maintenance cost, estimated from $400 million to $800 million per squadron.

The Philippine Air Force has retired its Korean War-vintage F-5s in 2005, including obsolete US-made T-33 and P-51 Mustang. It is still using Italian-made S211 trainer jets as ground attack aircraft against insurgents.

The Philippines and China have stationed their vessels near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea since April.