Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.has called for increasing the Philippines' defense budget to at least 4% of the GDP to address ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During an ambush interview commemorating the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award, Teodoro emphasized the need to realign funding to prioritize defense spending, noting that neighboring countries like Indonesia have significantly boosted their defense budgets to near 5%.

He argued that deterrence requires actual financial commitment rather than mere declarations, stressing that public entitlements should be redirected toward building a credible and resilient military force.Teodoro highlighted the importance of avoiding a 'free rider problem' where citizens expect security without contributing to defense costs.

The Philippines' 2016 arbitration victory against China's nine-dash claim remains unresolved, with China rejecting the ruling as 'illegal and invalid.' The defense secretary's push underscores the strategic imperative of securing maritime claims while balancing national priorities.