The Department of National Defense will fast track the purchase of 21 UH-1 helicopters to boost the 16 mission-capable units operated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The purchase went through two biddings, but both failed. The DND will now get the helicopters through a negotiated purchase. The government has set aside P1.2 billion to buy the helicopters, which were supposed to have been used for election-related duties earlier this month.
“We cannot afford not to have additional helicopters for a long time. The rainy season is approaching. We need the helicopters for disaster response. We also need them for our existing internal security operations,” Defense undersecretary Fernando Manalo said in a Philippine Star report.
—
Photo: Maurotongco
