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Naval Forces News - Philippine |
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Philippine Department of National Defense opened bid for two brand new
Frigates |
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The
Philippine defense department formally opened public bidding last week
to prospective sellers of vessels to be bought by the Philippine Navy
under the military's modernization programs. The Department of National
Defense (DND), through its website, opened a public bidding for the
acquisition of two brand new frigates projected to improve the capability
of the military in territorial defense. |
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The DND said funds to be used in the acquisition
of frigates will be drawn from the 1.73 billion U.S. dollars earmarked
under the 5-year armed forces modernization act signed into law by President
Benigno Aquino III.
Fernando Manalo, DND undersecretary who chairs the DND Special Bids
and Awards Committee, said a pre-bid conference is scheduled on Oct.
11 and the deadline for bid submission is Oct. 25.
He stressed that bidders, ought to have completed similar project for
the last 10 years, must have ability to deliver the frigates within
1,460 days upon the opening of the Letter of Credit.
"The acquisition of the two frigates is part of the Navy's force-mix
program to attain the minimum credible defense posture. These will also
enhance the Navy's vision to become a true blue water Navy as we aim
to be really strong and credible," said Navy spokesman Lieutenant
Commander Gregorio Gerald Fabic.
Defense officials, who set aside original plan to buy low-cost but high
maintenance cost second hand fully-equipped Maestrale- class frigates
from the Italian Navy in favor of acquiring relatively expensive but
low maintenance cost brand new ones, said they were hoping for delivery
of warships before Aquino's term ends in 2016, even if their turn-over
is still expected to extend beyond.
The Philippine Navy acquired in August from the United States its second
Hamilton-class cutter, two years after getting its first one. The government
spent 23 million U.S. dollars for the two ships.
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