On September 17, 2025, Stratbase Institute President Prof. Manhit was invited by the Office for Strategic Studies and Strategy Management of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to serve as a critic for a Strategic Foresight Training with the theme “Reviving Strategic Foresight Capacity: A Futures Thinking Workshop for Philippine Security Planning (2025–2046)” at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo. 

The workshop was designed to re-establish the AFP’s internal capability to conduct future-oriented and long-term security planning, particularly in light of the recent passage of Republic Act 12024 or the Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) Act. 

In his critique, Prof. Manhit emphasized that the SRDP can serve as a crucial enabler of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC). To achieve this, he underscored the importance of strategic collaboration among the government, the private sector, and the international community. He further stressed that the pursuit of self-reliance through the SRDP does not diminish the need for alliances; rather, it strengthens them. This complementary approach equips the Philippines to prepare for and respond effectively to both conventional threats and emerging challenges such as cyberattacks and artificial intelligence–driven warfare.