PH earmarks P18 billion for two new warships

The government has allocated P18 billion for the purchase of two brand new frigates as the Department of the National Defense (DND) has opted to ditch its original plan of purchasing second-hand war ships.
Fernando Manalo, DND Undersecretary for Finance, Munitions, Installations and Materiel, said the original allocation for the second-hand frigate is P6 billion each to maximize what the budget that the government has.
“We realized that it will be expensive in the long run if we are going to buy second hand,” said Manalo.
Manalo did not discuss the specifications of the frigate but said the two planned procurement war ships would be of big help in guarding the territorial waters of the country.
Unlike second-hand frigates wherein spare parts and efficiency are usually the problems, Manalo said the brand new ones assures good running condition for some 20 to 30 years.
The DND is planning to bid out the procurement of two frigates, with Spain, Singapore and South Korea reportedly planning to join.
The government earlier revealed that it may also buy fighter jets from South Korea.
He said they are now expediting the procurement process to make sure that all the procedures would be completed within the second quarter of this year.
Aside from fighter jets and frigates, the second Hamilton-class war ship that the Philippines bought from the United States is expected to arrive in July this year.

The Philippines has embarked on a modernization program for its Armed Forces after it was locked in a territorial dispute with China over the South China Sea which is locally referred to as West Philippine Sea.