The Philippines
Navy has been cleared to begin negotiations for the purchase of a multirole
vessel from any of the friendly nations, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama
said on Sunday. “The latest process that we had undergone with
the Department of National Defense had good results and we did not encounter
anymore objections,” Pama said.
“Hopefully, all the procedures required by the defense acquisition
system would be finalized and early next year we can start negotiations
for the acquisition,” Pama said.
But Pama said the Navy has yet to obtain President Aquino’s approval
for the purchase plan, which is part of the military’s modernization.
An MRV, which costs at least P5 billion, will serve as a mother ship
equipped with state-of-the-art radars and sensors for monitoring aircrafts
and patrol boats, Pama said. |
Early this year, Defense
Secretary Voltaire Gazmin temporarily dropped the acquisition of an MRV
from the list of big-ticket items and gave priority to light sea-crafts
for internal security operations and disaster response.
Gazmin changed his mind following China’s alleged intrusions into
Philippine territorial waters particularly in the West Philippine Sea
(South China Sea) where the hotly disputed Spratly islands is situated.
Last August, the Philippines acquired a patrol vessel—Hamilton-class
cutter—from the United States Coast Guard for P423 million to beef
up security at the Malampaya gas project. The Navy renamed it BRP Gregorio
del Pilar.
“The dry-docking and repainting of PF15 costs P47.914 million while
the refitting to our Navy configuration is P13.872 million. It was funded
by the Department of Energy.”
On Dec. 14, the Navy with Aquino as the guest of honor will launch the
commissioning of the vessel together with a Philippine-made Landing Utility
Craft called BRP Tagbanua (AT296), a BO105 Helicopter (PNH422) and a refurbished
Presidential Yacht called BRP Ang Pangulo (AT25).
The P189 million- BRP Tagbanua, made in Misamis Oriental, is configured
to transport combat personnel, tanks, vehicles, artillery equipment, and
cargoes in support of military operations and perform medical assistance
as well as disaster, rescue and relief operations.
Source: Manila Standard Today |
