Topic: Navy to open bidding for brand new warships

[A7x]

MANILA, Philippines - Despite having acquired two second-hand warships from the United States, the Philippine Navy is still keen on purchasing brand new frigates.

Philippine Navy flag officer-in-charge Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano said the new acquisitions are still part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' bid for modernization.

"(The frigates are still) part of the modernization program. (We are) now in the process of coming up with the final documents for the bidding," Alano said.

He added that five countries have so far expressed interest in joining the bidding namely the US, Israel, Croatia, Australia and South Korea.

DND bought two Hamilton-class cutters BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) the past year. While the Del Pilar has started its service under the Navy, the Alcaraz is set to arrive in Philippines on August 3 and will be commissioned by September.

Alano, however, said that once the bidding process has concluded, the Department of National Defense will determine the start of the new frigate project seen to boost maritime security.

DND had announced that the upcoming new warships will cost the government P18 billion, higher than the earlier P11-billion budget.

President Benigno Aquino III said in his fourth State of the Nation Address the primary necessities in education, health and jobs creation will be the administration's priority.

However, Aquino assured the troops that the plans to beef up the armed services will continue.

"To those who have doubts, let me stress that we will continue to strengthen the armed forces through honest and reasonable means. And I myself will do this as soon as possible," he said.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/07/31/1035141/navy-open-bidding-brand-new-warships

[dodongtigas]

Good news eto at sana matuloy bago matapos ang term ni pnoy

[batman217]

Payag ako dito. Ang ayaw lang naman dito ay ang utak-kalawang este kaliwa pala na si Casino, Reyes at mga leader ng Bayan Muna.

Kailangan din ng isang bansa ang isang malakas na navy at airforce kasi tayo ay napapalibutan ng dagat at karagatan at kailangan nating ipagtanggol ang ating mga isla at karagatan sa mga bully na bansa gaya ng China.

[nindya_turtol]

anu kaya itsura ng mga aktibistang to pag sila ihaharap sa mga banyagang mananakop? more on theatrical show na ngayun ang pag-rarally nila... 

[freeyourmind]

the dnd is funny..brand new come on. they should fix the economy first,before being militaristic while people are starving.

[tigerwing]

the dnd is funny..brand new come on. they should fix the economy first,before being militaristic while people are starving.

So kelan pala tayo mag aaquire nyan? The reason why the AFP is in such a pathetic state is partly because of this kind of thinking. We have got to realize that national security ain't cheap and we need to be willing to throw money at it. Else, there's always something better to fund and lets just forget our armed forces.

Fix the economy? last time I check the economy is doing rather well, kaya nga tayo may pambili nyan eh.. Did you know that Vietnam, a country with half the economy of the Philippines has a hell of a lot better Armed Forces?

[KnightRider]

the dnd is funny..brand new come on. they should fix the economy first,before being militaristic while people are starving.

wait what is worst for you  our resources being depleted or stolen or ignore this security build up? dba majority of our resources especially food comes from sea?  And isnt the gov't doing something about the economy, I know its now enough but whats more important. You should look at the bigger picture not your backyard..

[schwack]

the dnd is funny..brand new come on. they should fix the economy first,before being militaristic while people are starving.

Are you D? inuubos na ng kung sino sino ang yamang dagat ng Pilipinas plus kung sino sino pa ang nananamantala sa pag labas pasok sa teritoryo ng bansa. For me even refurbish ships is still fine but NEW ships is really an upgrade. Hindi ko alam kung ilan pang mga Pilipino ang magisip kagaya mo, sana kokonti lang.