Philippines Defence Forum

[Ayan81]

I think he's worth a try kabayan. What's wrong with living in Davao? It's been the safest city for many years. it's been long due na rin that we really need 180 degree change in politics. We've been electing same trapos every election. aren't you intrigued of what his platform is going to be? I know he's extreme but we need someone who doesn't bow to anyone. I am excited.

Only handful of people have that gut and only Duterte is probably winnable candidate. We need to bite the bullet to have change. With his vision to change the system and the will to do it, I will definitely vote for him if he run for President.


well you should give these leftists a chance to prove their worth. Maybe they have something to share in economic progress in the country, instead of being a mere critic.


Exactly! He's definitely far more capable than any of the current 'presidentiables'.

He will change the politics in this country true, but to what? a coalition government with the Reds and MNLF? The NPA's are not fighting for land reform and social injustice but to take control of the country, and we just give Joma a ticket home and not answer for his crimes and worst we just give him a post in the government. That is the worst insult to those who have fallen defending this country (military/civilians). Event till now the people affected in the Zambo siege still suffering. He even encourages us to pay the revolutionary taxes to the NPA's.

In fairness to the good mayor he has done a wonderful job governing Davao, but running a city is different from a running a country. He has no flaws of the former/present Presidents but he doesn't have their strengths either.

Duterte will be an excellent choice, have you seen the investments in Davao? It even challenges Cebu City.



It is time for a change of these political dynasties in Manila. Duterte will be a much needed force in Manila politics, hopefully he will open Philippines to greater foreign investment.

Btw, Duterte is a friend of Japan's Keidren Kaikan. I expect to see a much greater integration of Japan and Philippines.

Digong said it himself he will not run for president. "I can only aspire for what I can be, I will never dream of what I cannot be" - Duterte

Nag engon pa gali sya nga kung ako inyong presidente magmahay gyud mong tanan

 

[Cossack25A1]

We will acquire three, no matter what!
-----
The Philippine Navy’s Submarine Quest
How realistic are plans for the Philippines to acquire submarines?

By Koh Swee Lean Collin
December 31, 2014

During a modernization briefing on December 17, Philippine Navy (PN) vice-chief Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad revealed future plans to acquire at least three submarines, as part of a follow-up to the ongoing 15-year P90-billion Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

The South China Sea disputes are no doubt a key motivation, when the rear-admiral remarked that “the events in the West Philippine Sea actually gave some urgency on the acquisition,” referring to the overall PN plan to purchase new assets, including a ten-year timeline for submarine purchase.

The PN’s 15-year Strategic Development Plan, revolving around the “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix” envisages a surface, sub-surface and aerial assets including major “big-ticket items” such as six anti-air warfare-oriented frigates, 12 corvettes optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), 18 offshore patrol vessels, three submarines, three mine countermeasures vessels, up to four Strategic Support Vessels (SSVs), up to eight Amphibious Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and 18 naval helicopters equipped for ASW. Not counting a significant number of coastal patrol assets, fleet auxiliaries and other aerial support platforms.

If all purchase options are to be exercised, a sustained long-term funding commitment is required. In May 2012, the PN authorities remarked that the upgrade will cost P500 billion ($11.1 billion). It is not certain whether the plan can survive the incumbent Aquino administration, which has thus far demonstrated zeal in propelling modest but nonetheless significant acquisitions (within available fiscal means), including two new-build SSVs and two former U.S. Coast Guard cutters.


Prioritizing the South China Sea

Among the assets desired, submarines would be ideal sea denial assets to deter China’s moves against Manila’s South China Sea interests. But assuming China is the foremost adversary in mind, the submarine acquisition will not necessarily be a game changer. Still, while three submarines cannot plausibly alter the naval balance of power in the contested waters, they may potentially complicate Chinese naval planning. Also facing significant force asymmetry with China, Vietnam’s submarine purchase in 2009 was undertaken with a similar approach.

The only question is whether sea denial alone is sufficient. Manila needs to do more than just ensure continuous access to its garrisoned Spratlys features for resupply and reinforcements. In the event of hostilities, the Philippines would need to have the capability to recapture features seized by adversarial forces. The Philippine maritime services, which collectively include the Navy, Coast Guard, National Police, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, face a more immediate challenge of unfriendly coast guard-type actions backed by naval surface forces in Philippine-claimed waters. What these services need are more surface assets possessing high endurance and good seakeeping qualities to allow the projection and sustainment of Philippine maritime presence in where it matters most.

In an operating scenario where contending parties endeavor to maintain a visible naval presence to assert sovereignty in disputed waters, submarines have less utility. Remaining surfaced simply contradicts the submarine’s basic design ethos, which is to stay invisible and hidden until the opportune moment comes to surprise the enemy, fire the sub’s weapons, and scoot away unscathed.

In peacetime, submarines do have a role in intelligence gathering. A submarine is useful for closely monitoring hostile activities in disputed areas where surface forces are unable to do so, as seen in the case of Vietnamese vessels being blocked by the China Coast Guard from getting too near the HYSY981 oil rig off the Paracel Islands in May 2014.

That said, submarines serve mainly a wartime sea denial role, yet their peacetime utility besides deterrence would be limited. Funding constraints would circumscribe the present purchases to priority platforms such as surface assets. The PN authorities are well aware of this. Taccad made this point clearly. Not only did he recognize that submarines “take a lot of gestation period” but he also remarked that the first capability to be acquired will be “what we can afford and yet cover a large space and this will be the patrol vessels. These are low-tech equipment, and low-cost. You can have more and cover a large space.”


Insurmountable Cost Issues?

Indeed, unlike surface assets, submarines are more expensive to acquire when one has to consider not just boats but the entire package of training, infrastructure, spares, maintenance, repair and overhaul – all necessitating long-term investments underpinned by political will and fiscal commitments. But it is important to note that these problems are not insurmountable.

In May 2012, a report published by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) wrote that the Philippines requires, amongst various modern air and naval assets, “an affordable force of four to six mini-submarines” for credible defense against growing Chinese belligerence in the South China Sea. There are indeed cheaper options on the market if full-sized diesel-electric submarines displacing over 1,000-3,000 tons submerged are beyond reach. Coastal submarines displacing 1,000 tons or less submerged, for instance the SMX-23 built by French DCNS, are available for cost-constrained navies. After all, due to initial budget constraints Vietnam first operated North Korean-built mini-submarines in the 1990s before finally acquiring the larger, vastly superior Kilo class.

Second-hand boats could be another possible, cost-effective pathway for the PN to acquire and accumulate sufficient know-how before purchasing newer boats. Singapore first acquired the 1960s-era ex-Swedish Sjöormen-class boats for training before acquiring the newer Västergotland-class and lately, Type-218SG boats to be designed and constructed in Germany. This is an example of an incremental strategy taking into account prevailing fiscal, human capital, and other resource constraints.

Finally, Manila may offset some of the expenses by seeking external ancillary assistance, for example agreements analogous to the Indonesia-Singapore and Singapore-Vietnam submarine rescue pacts. On the whole, though, even with external help, submarine acquisition remains a costly, operationally, and technically challenging enterprise that warrants prudent, long-term measures.


A Phased Submarine Plan?

In fact, back in December 1999, then PN Vice Admiral Luisito Fernandez revealed that the navy created a “core group” to evaluate submarine acquisition by 2010. This announcement came about a year after the Second Mischief Reef Incident with China. But the AFP was then preoccupied with counter-insurgency operations in the Mindanao region. As a result, the land forces received the lion’s share of limited defense funding. Not only was submarine acquisition by 2010 impossible, the bulk of the antiquated Philippine Fleet continued its downward slide into disrepair without major revitalization efforts.

But the context today and in the foreseeable future is different. Manila at present has a long PN upgrade wish list but recognizes funding constraints. In recent years, Philippine defense and naval planners had revealed policy thinking that indicated firm commitment to the submarine quest.

In August 2011, Aquino noted that the PN was exploring the possibility of submarine procurement. At the time, then PN chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama expressed caution, calling the plan “a complicated matter” and pointed out that “we don’t want to commit a mistake by jumping into something. As I said, we don’t want to buy something which eventually we cannot chew and swallow.” He said the PN would look into the practicality of purchasing submarines.

Even though a lump-sum P500 billion for the PN upgrade is unavailable, it is misleading to call current ongoing acquisitions an ad-hoc effort. The initial phase comprises a combination of new-build and second-hand purchases, such as the AW109 helicopters and cutters which enter service in 2013-15. Successive tranches of funding would sustain follow-on phases, such as a P75 billion AFP modernization program in May 2013 that prioritizes a navy upgrade envisaging two brand-new frigates, two ASW-capable helicopters, and three coastal patrol vessels by 2017.

In October 2013, then commander of the Northern Luzon Command Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang reiterated the desire for three submarines as part of the “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix.” Catapang stressed the need for military procurements to adhere to national strategic or operational requirements, as opposed to an expedient approach driven by external military aid. In his current capacity as AFP chief of staff, Catapang recently noted the need for the armed forces to become reoriented to external defense. The comment adds impetus to the submarine commitment.

Manila’s submarine acquisition is not meant to be mere symbolism. Operational thought has been devoted to conceiving a force size capable of sustainable deployment. If it is impossible to purchase three submarines, Taccad mentioned, the PN would settle for two, so that one boat is deployable while the other is undergoing routine maintenance. The alternative to acquiring submarines, he also noted, would be missile-armed frigates, referring to the new frigates as well as the potential retrofit of missiles on board the existing pair of cutters to serve as a deterrent and backup for patrols against foreign harassment.


ASW First, Submarines Next?

Judging from what has transpired, a phased submarine plan appears to be in the works. The December 17 revelation of having established a submarine office in 2013, plausibly a follow-up to the “core group” created in 1999, represents the first modest step forward.

It is clear that the PN has been paying attention to the submarine and ASW sector, which is logical in view of the regional submarine proliferation. The PN is keen to first acquire an ASW capability in the interim before finally acquiring submarines. This step, together with possible future ASW joint training with close allies who have submarines, would in the near-term give the Filipinos more insights on undersea warfare.

In fact, the push for ASW capabilities runs alongside the longer-term project for submarines, as part of the PN’s “Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy.” On several occasions since 2013, the PN has expressed its intent to develop an ASW capability in the long term, in particular shipboard and helicopter ASW. Unprecedented (albeit still modest) efforts were made to realize this. In the first half of 2014, the PN announced its aim of acquiring two ASW helicopters, having allocated P5.4 billion to fund the purchase. This was followed up by an invite to bid for the program, which is part of the Medium-Term Development Capability Plan (MTDCP) 2013-2017. It was further augmented in late September 2014 when Manila issued another “invitation to bid” document to purchase a pair of ASW helicopters.

Where surface ASW is concerned, the PN is slated to receive a decommissioned, ex-ROK Navy Pohang-class corvette by end of 2014, with Philippine defense authorities saying that there is a good chance that the ship would be delivered with all combat systems intact, including ASW capabilities such as hull-mounted submarine-hunting sonar, torpedo tubes, and depth charge racks. Local efforts are also underway to develop ASW capabilities for the PN, for example Project Ilalim (Filipino for “under”) conducted by the Naval Research and Development Center to study and develop indigenous sonar systems for the PN.

These efforts to acquire an ASW capability, which is financially and technically more feasible to accomplish in the shorter term, would presage the PN’s eventual acquisition of an undersea capability. For the funding-constrained PN, this represents a logical approach, albeit an incremental one, towards eventually attaining a submarine capability. After all, acquiring ASW knowhow is a crucial first step towards gaining an undersea capability.


Learning from Other Regional Submarine Aspirants?

While skeptics may be tempted to dismiss this recent Philippine move to acquire submarines, Manila’s plan is no mere pipe dream. The PN is actually taking a deliberate approach in incremental phases to systematically induct submarines as part of the overall modernization effort. This pathway is no different from some other regional navies which had sought to build submarine capabilities from scratch.

The Indo-Pacific maritime region is in fact resplendent with national examples, besides Singapore and Vietnam, on how to start from low-base and implement long-term, phased submarine capacity-building efforts. For instance, despite having missed the chance to purchase second-hand German Type-206 submarines, Thailand created a shore-based submarine training center, equipped with a full-size replica of submarine command and control room, to kick-start training and accumulation of basic undersea warfare expertise. Bangladesh, having sent officers abroad for submarine training before it recently decided to purchase submarines, is another instructive example.

These examples would not have gone unnoticed by Philippine defense and naval planners. Indeed, ongoing Philippine efforts may well have already taken lessons from these examples. As such, while Manila’s submarine acquisition plan will take time to materialize, it is important not to underestimate its resolve.

If anything, the recent disclosure of having taking steps to establish a submarine capability ought to provide a major morale boost to the AFP and send a strong message to potential adversaries. Given sufficient political will and a well-conceived long-term strategy, Manila has the ability to overcome the hurdles it will face in the submarine acquisition process.

Koh Swee Lean Collin is associate research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies based in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

-----
The Philippine Navy’s Submarine Quest | The Diplomat

 

[Aepsilons]

Excellent news! Ma lipay gayud ako sa ini nga basahan ! @Ayan81 !

Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas!

 

[NarThoD]

Old Picture

President Marcos says thanks to Indonesian Air Force for loaning Cassa 212 + crew to help Philippine conduct anti-insurgent against New People's Army communist.

 

[Aepsilons]

Old Picture

President Marcos says thanks to Indonesian Air Force for loaning Cassa 212 + crew to help Philippine conduct anti-insurgent against New People's Army communist.

View attachment 180307

Mabuhay Ang Pilipinas ! Merdeka Indonesia Raya !

We will acquire three, no matter what!
-----
The Philippine Navy’s Submarine Quest
How realistic are plans for the Philippines to acquire submarines?

By Koh Swee Lean Collin
December 31, 2014

During a modernization briefing on December 17, Philippine Navy (PN) vice-chief Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad revealed future plans to acquire at least three submarines, as part of a follow-up to the ongoing 15-year P90-billion Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) modernization program.

The South China Sea disputes are no doubt a key motivation, when the rear-admiral remarked that “the events in the West Philippine Sea actually gave some urgency on the acquisition,” referring to the overall PN plan to purchase new assets, including a ten-year timeline for submarine purchase.

The PN’s 15-year Strategic Development Plan, revolving around the “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix” envisages a surface, sub-surface and aerial assets including major “big-ticket items” such as six anti-air warfare-oriented frigates, 12 corvettes optimized for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), 18 offshore patrol vessels, three submarines, three mine countermeasures vessels, up to four Strategic Support Vessels (SSVs), up to eight Amphibious Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and 18 naval helicopters equipped for ASW. Not counting a significant number of coastal patrol assets, fleet auxiliaries and other aerial support platforms.

If all purchase options are to be exercised, a sustained long-term funding commitment is required. In May 2012, the PN authorities remarked that the upgrade will cost P500 billion ($11.1 billion). It is not certain whether the plan can survive the incumbent Aquino administration, which has thus far demonstrated zeal in propelling modest but nonetheless significant acquisitions (within available fiscal means), including two new-build SSVs and two former U.S. Coast Guard cutters.


Prioritizing the South China Sea

Among the assets desired, submarines would be ideal sea denial assets to deter China’s moves against Manila’s South China Sea interests. But assuming China is the foremost adversary in mind, the submarine acquisition will not necessarily be a game changer. Still, while three submarines cannot plausibly alter the naval balance of power in the contested waters, they may potentially complicate Chinese naval planning. Also facing significant force asymmetry with China, Vietnam’s submarine purchase in 2009 was undertaken with a similar approach.

The only question is whether sea denial alone is sufficient. Manila needs to do more than just ensure continuous access to its garrisoned Spratlys features for resupply and reinforcements. In the event of hostilities, the Philippines would need to have the capability to recapture features seized by adversarial forces. The Philippine maritime services, which collectively include the Navy, Coast Guard, National Police, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, face a more immediate challenge of unfriendly coast guard-type actions backed by naval surface forces in Philippine-claimed waters. What these services need are more surface assets possessing high endurance and good seakeeping qualities to allow the projection and sustainment of Philippine maritime presence in where it matters most.

In an operating scenario where contending parties endeavor to maintain a visible naval presence to assert sovereignty in disputed waters, submarines have less utility. Remaining surfaced simply contradicts the submarine’s basic design ethos, which is to stay invisible and hidden until the opportune moment comes to surprise the enemy, fire the sub’s weapons, and scoot away unscathed.

In peacetime, submarines do have a role in intelligence gathering. A submarine is useful for closely monitoring hostile activities in disputed areas where surface forces are unable to do so, as seen in the case of Vietnamese vessels being blocked by the China Coast Guard from getting too near the HYSY981 oil rig off the Paracel Islands in May 2014.

That said, submarines serve mainly a wartime sea denial role, yet their peacetime utility besides deterrence would be limited. Funding constraints would circumscribe the present purchases to priority platforms such as surface assets. The PN authorities are well aware of this. Taccad made this point clearly. Not only did he recognize that submarines “take a lot of gestation period” but he also remarked that the first capability to be acquired will be “what we can afford and yet cover a large space and this will be the patrol vessels. These are low-tech equipment, and low-cost. You can have more and cover a large space.”


Insurmountable Cost Issues?

Indeed, unlike surface assets, submarines are more expensive to acquire when one has to consider not just boats but the entire package of training, infrastructure, spares, maintenance, repair and overhaul – all necessitating long-term investments underpinned by political will and fiscal commitments. But it is important to note that these problems are not insurmountable.

In May 2012, a report published by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) wrote that the Philippines requires, amongst various modern air and naval assets, “an affordable force of four to six mini-submarines” for credible defense against growing Chinese belligerence in the South China Sea. There are indeed cheaper options on the market if full-sized diesel-electric submarines displacing over 1,000-3,000 tons submerged are beyond reach. Coastal submarines displacing 1,000 tons or less submerged, for instance the SMX-23 built by French DCNS, are available for cost-constrained navies. After all, due to initial budget constraints Vietnam first operated North Korean-built mini-submarines in the 1990s before finally acquiring the larger, vastly superior Kilo class.

Second-hand boats could be another possible, cost-effective pathway for the PN to acquire and accumulate sufficient know-how before purchasing newer boats. Singapore first acquired the 1960s-era ex-Swedish Sjöormen-class boats for training before acquiring the newer Västergotland-class and lately, Type-218SG boats to be designed and constructed in Germany. This is an example of an incremental strategy taking into account prevailing fiscal, human capital, and other resource constraints.

Finally, Manila may offset some of the expenses by seeking external ancillary assistance, for example agreements analogous to the Indonesia-Singapore and Singapore-Vietnam submarine rescue pacts. On the whole, though, even with external help, submarine acquisition remains a costly, operationally, and technically challenging enterprise that warrants prudent, long-term measures.


A Phased Submarine Plan?

In fact, back in December 1999, then PN Vice Admiral Luisito Fernandez revealed that the navy created a “core group” to evaluate submarine acquisition by 2010. This announcement came about a year after the Second Mischief Reef Incident with China. But the AFP was then preoccupied with counter-insurgency operations in the Mindanao region. As a result, the land forces received the lion’s share of limited defense funding. Not only was submarine acquisition by 2010 impossible, the bulk of the antiquated Philippine Fleet continued its downward slide into disrepair without major revitalization efforts.

But the context today and in the foreseeable future is different. Manila at present has a long PN upgrade wish list but recognizes funding constraints. In recent years, Philippine defense and naval planners had revealed policy thinking that indicated firm commitment to the submarine quest.

In August 2011, Aquino noted that the PN was exploring the possibility of submarine procurement. At the time, then PN chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama expressed caution, calling the plan “a complicated matter” and pointed out that “we don’t want to commit a mistake by jumping into something. As I said, we don’t want to buy something which eventually we cannot chew and swallow.” He said the PN would look into the practicality of purchasing submarines.

Even though a lump-sum P500 billion for the PN upgrade is unavailable, it is misleading to call current ongoing acquisitions an ad-hoc effort. The initial phase comprises a combination of new-build and second-hand purchases, such as the AW109 helicopters and cutters which enter service in 2013-15. Successive tranches of funding would sustain follow-on phases, such as a P75 billion AFP modernization program in May 2013 that prioritizes a navy upgrade envisaging two brand-new frigates, two ASW-capable helicopters, and three coastal patrol vessels by 2017.

In October 2013, then commander of the Northern Luzon Command Major General Gregorio Pio Catapang reiterated the desire for three submarines as part of the “Philippine Fleet Desired Force Mix.” Catapang stressed the need for military procurements to adhere to national strategic or operational requirements, as opposed to an expedient approach driven by external military aid. In his current capacity as AFP chief of staff, Catapang recently noted the need for the armed forces to become reoriented to external defense. The comment adds impetus to the submarine commitment.

Manila’s submarine acquisition is not meant to be mere symbolism. Operational thought has been devoted to conceiving a force size capable of sustainable deployment. If it is impossible to purchase three submarines, Taccad mentioned, the PN would settle for two, so that one boat is deployable while the other is undergoing routine maintenance. The alternative to acquiring submarines, he also noted, would be missile-armed frigates, referring to the new frigates as well as the potential retrofit of missiles on board the existing pair of cutters to serve as a deterrent and backup for patrols against foreign harassment.


ASW First, Submarines Next?

Judging from what has transpired, a phased submarine plan appears to be in the works. The December 17 revelation of having established a submarine office in 2013, plausibly a follow-up to the “core group” created in 1999, represents the first modest step forward.

It is clear that the PN has been paying attention to the submarine and ASW sector, which is logical in view of the regional submarine proliferation. The PN is keen to first acquire an ASW capability in the interim before finally acquiring submarines. This step, together with possible future ASW joint training with close allies who have submarines, would in the near-term give the Filipinos more insights on undersea warfare.

In fact, the push for ASW capabilities runs alongside the longer-term project for submarines, as part of the PN’s “Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy.” On several occasions since 2013, the PN has expressed its intent to develop an ASW capability in the long term, in particular shipboard and helicopter ASW. Unprecedented (albeit still modest) efforts were made to realize this. In the first half of 2014, the PN announced its aim of acquiring two ASW helicopters, having allocated P5.4 billion to fund the purchase. This was followed up by an invite to bid for the program, which is part of the Medium-Term Development Capability Plan (MTDCP) 2013-2017. It was further augmented in late September 2014 when Manila issued another “invitation to bid” document to purchase a pair of ASW helicopters.

Where surface ASW is concerned, the PN is slated to receive a decommissioned, ex-ROK Navy Pohang-class corvette by end of 2014, with Philippine defense authorities saying that there is a good chance that the ship would be delivered with all combat systems intact, including ASW capabilities such as hull-mounted submarine-hunting sonar, torpedo tubes, and depth charge racks. Local efforts are also underway to develop ASW capabilities for the PN, for example Project Ilalim (Filipino for “under”) conducted by the Naval Research and Development Center to study and develop indigenous sonar systems for the PN.

These efforts to acquire an ASW capability, which is financially and technically more feasible to accomplish in the shorter term, would presage the PN’s eventual acquisition of an undersea capability. For the funding-constrained PN, this represents a logical approach, albeit an incremental one, towards eventually attaining a submarine capability. After all, acquiring ASW knowhow is a crucial first step towards gaining an undersea capability.


Learning from Other Regional Submarine Aspirants?

While skeptics may be tempted to dismiss this recent Philippine move to acquire submarines, Manila’s plan is no mere pipe dream. The PN is actually taking a deliberate approach in incremental phases to systematically induct submarines as part of the overall modernization effort. This pathway is no different from some other regional navies which had sought to build submarine capabilities from scratch.

The Indo-Pacific maritime region is in fact resplendent with national examples, besides Singapore and Vietnam, on how to start from low-base and implement long-term, phased submarine capacity-building efforts. For instance, despite having missed the chance to purchase second-hand German Type-206 submarines, Thailand created a shore-based submarine training center, equipped with a full-size replica of submarine command and control room, to kick-start training and accumulation of basic undersea warfare expertise. Bangladesh, having sent officers abroad for submarine training before it recently decided to purchase submarines, is another instructive example.

These examples would not have gone unnoticed by Philippine defense and naval planners. Indeed, ongoing Philippine efforts may well have already taken lessons from these examples. As such, while Manila’s submarine acquisition plan will take time to materialize, it is important not to underestimate its resolve.

If anything, the recent disclosure of having taking steps to establish a submarine capability ought to provide a major morale boost to the AFP and send a strong message to potential adversaries. Given sufficient political will and a well-conceived long-term strategy, Manila has the ability to overcome the hurdles it will face in the submarine acquisition process.

Koh Swee Lean Collin is associate research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies based in Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

-----
The Philippine Navy’s Submarine Quest | The Diplomat

Japan should consider gifting some Oyashio Class Subs to the Philippine Navy. These would be , in my opinion, a better choice than Germany's Type 206.

Nag engon pa gali sya nga kung ako inyong presidente magmahay gyud mong tanan

Tino-ud ba bhai @Ayan81 ? Sa unang na panahon nga nag bisitar gayod ako sa Davao sa 2012, na kuyawhan gayud ko kai naka kita ko sa polis. Embes pistol ra , nag kubet sila og Armalite. Engon gud ahong tour guide nako, "The police here do not joke around, shoot to kill" daw. Maayo ra pod kai naa bitaw threats diha sa Davao, mao na dako pod ang responsibilidad ni Duterte , espesyalamente para safety pod sa Foreign Investors diha sa Davao.



2 Japanese medical firms expand in PH


--------------

MANILA, Philippines – The new year 2015 opens with investment news, as two of Japan’s major medical product manufacturers selected Lopez-led First Philippine Industrial Park (FPIP) in Santo Tomas, Batangas as the location for their Philippine expansion projects.


Through their respective subsidiaries, Tokai Medical Products (TMP) and JMS Company Ltd. (JMS) signed contracts with FPIP for the lease of areas within the 442-hectare economic zone in Batangas.


Tokai’s plant within FPIP will be its first outside Japan. The company’s new plant in FPIP will manufacture medical catheters for export to Japan and the US. The medical catheters, such as aortic catheters and intra-aortic occlusion catheters, are products for heart disease patients.


Tokai’s local unit will start constructing its factory in January, and move to commercial operations in October 2015.


Tokai is a medical engineering company based in Nagoya, Japan. It is internationally known in the field, especially for cardiac-related diseases.


The JMS plant within FPIP will be its first in the Philippines. JMS Healthcare Phl Inc. will manufacture and assemble medical devices and disposables, such as infusion sets, from FPIP for export to Japan, Europe, and Latin America. JMS also operates facilities in China, Singapore, and Indonesia.


JMS, which started building its factory within FPIP, expects to go on commercial operations in the first quarter of 2016.


Headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan, JMS develops devices for health care sectors including home health care systems, hospital equipment systems, and medical information systems.


Both companies recently conducted their respective ground-breaking ceremonies within FPIP with Lilia de Lima, director-general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), as guest of honor.


Tokai and JMS join a growing list of FPIP big-named locators, industry movers like B/E Aerospace, Brother, Canon, Honda, Ibiden, Murata, Nestlé, Philip Morris, Shimano, and Sunpower.


FPIP, meanwhile, is a 70-30 joint venture between First Philippine Holdings Corporation, the holding company of the Lopez Group, and Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan’s biggest conglomerates.

2 Japanese medical firms expand in PH

 

[Pinoy]

What Duterte's plans should he run for President and win

During the flag-raising ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City last November 10, where he was a guest of honor, the local chief executive told reporters that he plans to retire and would let his daughter Sara to run for the mayoral post, PhilStar.com reported.

However, just in case he would reconsider his decision and seek for election for the country's top post, here are some of his "visions" for the Philippines, in bullet form, based on a SunStar report:

• If Duterte becomes president and still cannot get the reforms he wants, he will declare a revolutionary government.

• He will close Congress.

• If there's no improvement in services, he will shutdown several government corporations and privatize the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

• If they will continue with their corrupt ways, Duterte said he will likewise privatize the Bureau of Customs (BoC).

• The moment he sits in power, all generals will be considered retired, retaining only about 40 of the best and brightest in the military.

• If leaders of leftist groups want a coalition government, Duterte said he will put National Democratic Front (NDF) chief negotiator Luis Jalandoni at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Communist Party of the Philippines' (CPP's) Jose Maria Sison will head the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Duterte reportedly said those from Manila might refer to him as an extremist.

"I am an extremist, but if you want to see how extremism can bring in jobs, then look at Davao," he said. "I will not allow oppression and abuse in my government."

Now here's a video taken during the 29th anniversary celebration thanksgiving and worship presentation of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ held at Jesus Christ Open Field in Davao.

Duterte revealed his plans for members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), whom he said are "the ones facing danger everyday."

The city mayor said police officers with lower ranks will be given a basic pay of P50,000 and P30,000 allowance for a total monthly income of P80,000 while high-ranking PNP officials (generals) will receive P300,000 basic salary and 200,000 allowance for a total of P500,000.

Their children's education is free from kindergarten to high school, he added.



Davao Mayor Duterte: 'If I am elected president...'
By: Jove Francisco, News5
December 27, 2014

MANILA - Has Davao City's controversial but much-admired mayor changed his mind about not seeking the presidency in 2016?

The question was raised on Friday as Mayor Rodrigo Duterte - who in the past repeatedly insisted he does not wish to be president despite the well-publicized campaign of supporters to draft him - gave cryptic remarks about his "plans" should he be elected president.

Speaking in the dialect, he said that, "If I'm elected president, and within six months to one year the reforms are not forthcoming, either from the Constitution, Congress, court TRO or injunction, I will declare a revolutionary government. I will close Congress. I will close everything."

Duterte enjoys a reputation as a hardworking, tough-talking, no-nonsense mayor who avows a commitment to good government and disdains corruption, but has in the past gotten into trouble for remarks that indicated a penchant for taking legal shortcuts to push reform or fight crime.

WATCH | Davao Mayor Duterte: 'If I am elected president...'



YEARENDER: Philippine economy shows strong resilience, sustains momentum
By Zinnia B. Dela Peña (The Philippine Star) | January 1, 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Despite the overwhelming task of rebuilding following a powerful typhoon that ripped through the Visayas region, the Philippines showed great resilience and managed to sustain its growth momentum in 2014, albeit at a slower pace, as the government continued to step on the brakes on public spending.

Once known as the “sick man of Asia,” the Philippines has pulled through admirably to remain one of the fastest-growing economies in the region, owing to improvements in fiscal management and the Aquino administration’s good governance initiatives.

Since President Aquino came into office in 2010, the Philippines has witnessed an unprecedented period of macro-economic buoyancy which allowed it to attract greater foreign investments and win investment-grade ratings.

In 2013, the country expanded 7.2 percent to make it the second best-performing economy in Asia after China, driven by the robust services and industry sector as well as strong household consumption.

Thanks to the steady influx of remittances from millions of Filipinos working abroad as well as investments from business process outsourcing companies, the Philippines defied a regional slowdown which saw China’s economy slumping to its slowest pace of growth since the global financial crisis.

Effects from a slowdown in the world’s second largest economy have trickled through to South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Indonesia.

Stable remittances from Filipino overseas workers have provided a strong foundation for a healthy buildup of international reserves, which stood at $79 billion as of the end of November. The amount is equivalent to 8.3 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity.

The Philippine economy, however, slowed sharply in the third quarter — its weakest pace of growth since 2011 — due to anemic public spending, poor agricultural performance and port congestion.

State underspending remains an acute problem that could jeopardize President Aquino’s goal of boosting annual expansion to as much as 8.5 percent by the end of his term in 2016.

While the government spent six percent more in the nine months through September than the same period a year earlier, the amount was still 16 percent less than programmed.

Underspending by the government has been estimated at P274 billion in first nine months of 2014 alone.

Government expenditure has further weakened after the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional certain portions of the government’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP), a fund allocation scheme intended to pump-prime the economy and address government underspending.

Last July 1, the high court unanimously voted to partially void DAP, saying it was unlawful to take unspent funds from projects that took time to be implemented and transfer these from one government branch to another.

According to the Supreme Court, the DAP encroached on congress’ exclusive power to appropriate funds.

The pullback in spending reflects the cautious stance by government agencies amid concerns over the misuse of public funds.

Major government agencies have become even more reluctant to spend to allow careful screening of projects and streamlining of procedures.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said besides the DAP ruling, court restraining orders on deals under the government’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative had also affected spending and the implementation of other projects.

Purisima cited the temporary restraining order (TRO) on the largest PPP program, the extension of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 from Baclaran to Cavite, and the writ of kalikasan on the Redondo power plant in Subic, Zambales, issued three years ago that remains in effect.

Analysts said the lack of taxation reforms has also been blamed for the slowdown in state spending.

Public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) remains low at 16.3 percent compared to the regional average of 24 percent.

Purisima said the government has a lot of room to ramp up spending given higher collections from its two biggest revenue earners — the Bureau of Internal Revenue and Bureau of Customs.

State revenues grew 12.6 percent from January to October with both BIR and BOC posting double-digit growth in collections. Together, the BIR and BOC make up more than 80 percent of total government revenues.

Purisima said the reforms implemented by the BIR and BOC have brought the Philippines closer to its goal of hitting a 16.6-percent tax-to-GDP ratio from the 14.08 percent recorded in the first three quarters of 2014.

The government saw its tax effort rise to 14.1 percent from 13.7 percent while revenue effort improved to 15.8 percent from 15.3 percent.

“These latest tax and revenue effort figures, along with manageable national and general government debt levels, clearly manifest that the Philippines continues to stand on firm fiscal footing, which remains to be at the core of our country’s growth story,” Purisima said.

Finance Undersecretary and chief economist Gil Beltran said the DOF is sticking to its economic growth average forecast of six percent until the end of President Aquino’s term.

Beltran cited weakening inflation, low interest rates and a stable foreign exchange rate as reasons for the DOF’s bullish outlook on the economy.

“Inflation slowed to 3.7 percent in November. Interest rates net of inflation remain one of the lowest in Asia despite QE tapering in the United States,” he said.

Beltran also cited the four credit upgrades received by the Philippines, most recently by Moody’s on Dec. 11 and S&P on May 8 to a notch above investment grade, the highest rating ever given by both ratings agencies to the country.

The Philippines also received upgrades from Japanese R&I and NICE Investors Service of Korea.

Apart from this, the World Economic Forum has also recognized the Philippines as the most improved country since 2010 with a seven-slot gain in its 2014 international competitiveness rankings.

The Philippines also received Finance Asia’s Region’s Best Borrower Award for its innovative execution of an accelerated one-day switch tender offer last January 2014, its first transaction as an investment grade sovereign.

The country was likewise cited by the Economist Intelligence Unit for a financial inclusion policy framework that is among the best three in the world, the best in Asia, and as an acknowledged leader in microinsurance regulation.

The GIZ also cited the Philippines as the Asian emerging country with the highest microinsurance outreach as the country recorded 27 million persons covered. The Philippine model is now being used by GIZ in its technical assistance program for neighboring Asian countries.

“With these improvements and citations, the challenge is there for us to outperform ourselves. In 2015, we will work harder to push the revenue effort further up by at least 1/2 percentage point of GDP, reduce the NG debt ratio by at least a percentage point and further expand fiscal space for infrastructure and social services,” Beltran said.

The Philippines will host the APEC finance ministers’ meeting to showcase its development experience in the hope of boosting foreign investments.

“Seeing the fruits of our labor appear in a virtuous cycle only makes one thing clear: We will roll our sleeves up and hunker down to institutionalize reforms in the tail-end of this administration,” Beltran said.

For 2015, the Aquino administration aims to pass a comprehensive and equitable tax reform package that improves tax administration and revises the tax structure to boost growth and equity for all Filipinos.

Both chambers of Congress earlier approved their versions of a bill increasing the ceiling for tax exemption on bonuses for workers in the public and private sector.

The tax exemption covers all bonuses, including 13th month pay and Christmas bonus.

Aside from this, there are proposals from various parties to cut personal income tax rates from 32 percent to 25 percent to make them comparable to the standard taxation regime in the Asean region.

The Senate believes now is the right time to adjust individual income tax rates and brackets as the existing rates remain unchanged since 1996.

To recover the losses from higher tax exemptions, the DOF is looking at other tax-revenue raising measures, which include the imposition of additional tax on softdrinks and other sugary drinks.

“As we approach the finish line, we will power through with our priorities to modernize the Bureau of Customs, and rationalize fiscal incentives,” Beltran said.

Among the other measures being pushed pushed by the DOF are the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, the Rationalization of the Mining Fiscal Regime, and the Amended Build-Operate-Transfer Law.

“Ingredients for sustained growth remain abundant as the fundamentals of our economy remain sound. Our reform agenda has been and will always be a force for inclusive and sustainable growth for an increasingly competitive Philippines,” Purisima said.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales said the Philippines’ low budget deficit and slowing inflation will push the economy to grow over 6.4 percent in 2015, making it the fastest growing in Southeast Asia.

However, the group warned that the country’s accelerating growth must be supported by the construction of quality infrastructures.

The Philippines continues to lag behind its counterparts in the Southeast Asian region when it comes to public infrastructure.

The inadequate supply of reliable infrastructure remains as one of the impediments to the country’s global competitiveness.

Despite its strong economic performance in recent years, the Philippines still posted low scores in other key indicators such as fixed phone lines, households with power, and paved roads.

Sluggish infrastructure development has been partly attributed to corruption and inefficient investment.

To catch up with its neighbors and sustain inclusive growth, the Philippines needs to raise public infrastructure spending to about five percent of GDP from the current 2.5 percent annually, which is one of the lowest rates in the region.

Foreign investors pointed to bureaucratic inefficiencies, particularly delays in the bidding and review process, as well as disputes within the private sector as barrier to investment and growth.

The Philippines ranks 91 among 144 countries in the World Economic Forum’s infrastructure rankings.

In the World Bank’s latest ranking of ease of doing business, the Philippines slid nine places to 95 out of 189 countries. The country fares poorly in the categories ability to start a business, access to credit, enforcement of contracts, and protection of minority investors.

The Philippines also continues to be in the bottom half in the Corruption Perceptions Index, the most widely used international measurement of corruption.

The Corruption Perception Index ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be based on a scale of zero to 100, where zero means that a country is perceived as highly corrupt and 100 means it is perceived as very clean.

Despite these, the Philippines is still seen to post the most favorable growth rate in Southeast Asia in the next five years on expectations that post-typhoon reconstruction accelerates and exports rise, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said.

“Whoever will take office in June 2016 will inherit an economy that has less debt, more able workers, fewer dependents, low borrowing costs, and excess savings,” Trinh Nguyen, a Hong Kong-based analyst at HSBC said in the report.

“We believe the Philippines, as an economy in 2016 will be in the best shape in decades,” Nguyen said.

YEARENDERhl economy shows strong resilience, sustains momentum | Business, News, The Philippine Star | philstar.com


FAQs: Pope Francis' trip to the Philippines
Got questions on the Pope's first Philippine visit? Check out the frequently asked questions here.

Jan 02, 2015

MANILA, Philippines – Only a few more days until Pope Francis makes his first trip to the Philippines, and the largely Catholic nation is preparing for it in full force.

Officials are are ramping up security as the charismatic Argentine pontiff is expected to draw an estimated 6 million people to events during his 5-day visit, possibly rivaling the 5-million-strong crowd of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1995.

Francis' itinerary from January 15 to 19 will include a courtesy call in Malacañang and meetings with priests, the youth, families, and consecrated persons during his 4 days in the capital, Manila.

He will also spend one day in the province of Leyte to meet with survivors of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and the 2013 earthquake in the Visayas.

While some of the gatherings are limited to pre-selected attendees, there are several events that will give the public a glimpse of the Roman Catholic leader.

Rappler has compiled this list of frequently asked questions and answers from the weekly press briefings of the official papal visit committee.

Which events are open to the public?

Some of these events are limited to pre-selected attendees, but the public may still go to the venues and watch via screens that will be set up outside.

January 16 (Friday)

11:15 am – Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral with 2,000 bishops, priests, and consecrated persons. Only those with IDs will be allowed to enter the cathedral, but the public can watch the event through screens outside. Tents with seats will be set up outside the cathedral.

January 17 (Saturday)

10 am – Mass at the Tacloban Airport grounds. Up to 160,000 people may be accommodated; big screens will also be set up for the public.

January 18 (Sunday)

10:30 am – Meeting with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas. This is open to the public, but the UST football field and grandstand will be designated to around 24,000 youth delegates only.

3:30 pm – Mass at the Rizal Park. Open to the public.

Do we need tickets to attend the events?

No tickets are issued, sold, or given away. The papal visit committee warns the public against those claiming to sell tickets to the events.

To get a better chance of having a glimpse of the Pope, the public is advised to come early to the venues and get a good spot.

How can we get passes for the meeting with the youth in UST? The meeting with families at Mall of Asia? The meeting with Yolanda survivors in Leyte?

Only pre-selected representatives will be allowed to participate in these events. They will be chosen by their respective dioceses. In an FAQ video, the papal visit committee suggests contacting the local parish or diocese for more information.

For more details on the meeting with the youth at UST, call the UST Office of Public Affairs at (02) 731-3544.

Will Pope Francis stop for photos along his motorcade?

It's not impossible. During his visit, the Pope will be riding an open, non-bulletproof "popemobile" to represent the ideal image of a "vulnerable, open, and accessible" Church.

This will allow Francis to step off the vehicle if he chooses. In his other trips, the Pope was known to make unscheduled stops during his motorcades to chat and be with the crowds.

Can I get close to Pope Francis?

With tight security and screening from the Philippine National Police, the Presidential Security Group, and the Vatican's own Swiss Guards, it's unlikely.

Will there be work during Pope Francis' visit?

January 15, 16, and 19 have been declared special (non-working) days in the National Capital Region.

Are merchandise bearing the papal visit logo legal?

While the official logo is copyrighted, independent sellers are not prohibited from creating their own designs and integrating elements of the papal visit, such as the theme and image of the Pope, in items that can be sold to commemorate the event.

Where can I monitor updates?

Visit Rappler's #PopeFrancisPH microsite for the latest stories, images, conversations, and perspective pieces on the Pope's visit to the Philippines.

An official papal visit app (papalvisitph) is also available on iOS and Android. The app links to the Pope's Twitter account (@pontifex) and official websites. It also features news updates and the Pope's Philippine itinerary, a photo gallery, the National Prayer for the Papal Visit, and a "prayer wall" for petitions.

I'm flying in to the Philippines in January. When will flight arrivals be suspended?

Local and foreign air carriers have suspended the arrival of flights in the Philippines on these dates:

• January 15: no flight arrivals from 2 pm to 7 pm
• January 19: no flight arrivals from 6 am to 10:30 am

What airport roads will be closed?

The following roads will be closed:

• January 15: Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, and Domestic Road (3 pm to 7 pm)
• January 19: Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, and Domestic Road (7 am to 10 am)

On these dates, Ninoy Aquino International Airport can only be accessed through South Superhighway, Bicutan, Sucat, and Alabang roads.

I'm going to Manila for the Pope's visit. Where can I stay?

Check out this list of hotels near key areas such as the Manila Cathedral, Mall of Asia, University of Santo Tomas, and Rizal Park.

Where can we send donations for the papal visit?

Check donations should be made payable to RCAM-Papal Visit.

Cash donations are accepted through these accounts:

• BPI: Current Account 0051-0556-75
• Security Bank: Savings Account 0061-015085-001

Donors are advised to inform the papal visit finance committee at (02) 527-2995 or email finance.papalvisit@yahoo.com.

FAQs: Pope Francis' trip to the Philippines

 

[Ayan81]

@Ayan81[/USER] ? Sa unang na panahon nga nag bisitar gayod ako sa Davao sa 2012, na kuyawhan gayud ko kai naka kita ko sa polis. Embes pistol ra , nag kubet sila og Armalite. Engon gud ahong tour guide nako, "The police here do not joke around, shoot to kill" daw. Maayo ra pod kai naa bitaw threats diha sa Davao, mao na dako pod ang responsibilidad ni Duterte , espesyalamente para safety pod sa Foreign Investors diha sa Davao.

Gi hadlok ra ka sa imong tour guide, dile mana sila manghilabot kung wala kay sala . It must be the PNP SAF you see

 

[Aepsilons]

Gi hadlok ra ka sa imong tour guide, dile mana sila manghilabot kung wala kay sala . It must be the PNP SAF you see

View attachment 180802

Maohan segoroh to kadto gi kita nako. Na kuyawhan gayud ko da. Pero impresib gayod ang pulis sa Davao, kai arang ka hinlo-a ang siyudad. Mas limpyo gyud ang Davao kay sa Cebu, Tagbilaran, Bacolod og Manila.

Na belib gayod ako. Arang ka kuyaw'a !

 

[Reashot Xigwin]

Missile Upgrades for Gregorio Del Pilar Frigates to Boost PN's Deterrence Capability


PF-15 Gregorio del Pilar (photo : Timawa)

MANILA (PNA) -- Installing a missile system aboard the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates in service will greatly boost the Philippine Navy's (PN) deterrence capability aside from boosting the country's credible defense posture.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, PN spokesperson, said that having these long range and potent weapons installed aboard BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) will act as force multipliers for the two ships.

"It will act as force multiplier for us, it will extend our patrolling reach, (the two ships) will no longer have to go there (threatened area) to thwart an aggressor, our missile systems, once in place on our capital ships, (will make intruders think twice about violating Philippine maritime territory), will aid (our) deterrence (capability) and protecting our vast and porous borders," he added.

At present, the two naval vessels are armed with a 76mm Oto Melara main gun, 25mm "Bushmaster" auto cannon at the stern, and a variety of heavy and light machine guns.

Arevalo also said that having missile armament will also provide the PN with the capability to engage aggressors at longer range compared to the reach of naval artillery, which is definitely much shorter.

Earlier, PN vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said that upgrades for the two Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates includes the installation of modern anti-ship and anti-air missiles.

"Missile armaments (for the Gregorio Del Pilar class frigates) are in the pipeline," he added.

However, Taccad did not elaborate on this plan but said that this is part of the improvements to make the two ships more capable.

The two BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) was acquired last May 2011 while its sister ship, the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), was bought from the Americans in May 2012.

These weapons will fully transform these vessels into more capable Navy units, Taccad added.

He declined to comment on when these upgrades will take place for security reasons.

"Both vessels are programmed for upgrades in terms of sensors and firepower to revive their original capabilities," the PN earlier said.

Both ships are members of the 11-ship Hamilton class cutters designed and built for the US Coast Guard for heavy weather patrolling during the 1960s.

These ships are the largest in the US Coast Guard service and armed with the 76mm Oto Melara automatic cannon and closed-in-weapon systems.

One sister ship, the USCGC Mellon was even fitted with a Harpoon anti-ship missile system during the 1990s.

(PNA)

PMC Acquire New GPMG, Sniper Rifles and Close Combat Optics


M-14 sniper rifle (photo : airsoft)

Marines acquire 220 units of 7.62mm GPMGs

MANILA (PNA) -- In line with efforts to boost the fire support capabilities of its ground troops, the Philippine Navy (PN) has acquired 220 units of 7.62mm GPMGs (general purpose machine guns) for its Marine units.

PN vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said "these machine guns are intended to fulfill the role of either a light machine gun or medium machine gun, while being at the same time, man-portable."

The 7.62mm GPMGs are also air-cooled and capable of firing full-power rifle cartridges.

Taccad said these machine guns will primarily provide multi-role automatic fire support weapons to Marine infantry squads and fire teams, especially the Force Reconnaissance teams and Special Operations platoons.

"These GPMGs will be also utilized as vehicle-mounted automatic fire support (weapons) to maneuvering units, convoys and defensive positions," he said. (PNA)

Marines to get 7.62mm sniper rifles

MANILA (PNA) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that it will be acquiring 7.62mm sniper rifles for its Marine units.
The weapons will be fitted with the advanced M-40 platform which includes sophisticated sights and scopes, enabling Marine marksmen to detect and engage enemy targets at long ranges.

The weapon will replaced existing M-14 sniper rifles currently being used by Marine units.

PN vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said the 7.62mm sniper rifles will also enhanced the capability of the Marine Scout snipers to acquire, observe, precisely engage and neutralize enemy targets from 800 meters and higher.
Taccad declined to comment on how many 7.62mm sniper rifles will be acquired for security reasons.

The PN vice commander also said that the weapon is now for "amendment of letter and offer acceptance". (PNA)

Marines acquire close combat optics

MANILA (PNA) -- The Philippine Navy (PN) announced that it has acquired 5,000 units of close combat optics which will further enhanced the targeting and aiming capabilities of its brand-new M-4 assault rifles.

The latter is a battery red dot type aiming device.

"We (have) acquired 5,000 units of this purposely to be fitted in the new assault rifles to enhance target acquisition speed of our ground troops," PN vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Taccad said.

The M-4s replaced the antiquated four decades old M-16 automatic rifle in the Philippine Marine Corps inventory.

Taccad said these weapons will significantly contribute to the development and transformation of the Marines into a multi-mission-oriented force, capable of effectively addressing both internal and external threats.

Some 5,000 M-4 units were distributed to the Navy and Marine outfits last November.

(PNA)

 

[Ayan81]

Shoulder-fired and mobile missile batteries for AFP

The government is on the works to acquire shoulder-fired anti-air missiles to ensure country’s preparedness to deal with air attacks.

Acquisition of mobile missile batteries with fire control radars and tracking devices is also underway.

“These weapons will be placed in strategic locations in major islands of the country, a ranking defense official, who requested anonymity, said,” as reported by government-run news agency.

The official added that the position of missile batteries will be changed “once in a while to prevent possible adversaries from gaining a fix on their locations.”

Shoulder-fired and mobile missile batteries for AFP | Ang Malaya Net

______________________________________________________________________________

Air Force needs more multi-role fighter aircraft

The government is not setting aside plan for acquiring additional FA-50s from Korea Aerospace Industries. Department of National Defense Undersecretary Fernando said buying additional Fighting Eagle can’t be ruled out nor confirmed.

“What I know for sure is that we have an existing requirement for multi-role fighter aircraft,” Manalo said. “Acquisition of additional FA-50s depends on KAI and how much it will invest to upgrade and further develop the F/A-50s.”

He added that twelve FA-50s already bought from South Korean KAI are not enough given that the Philippine Air Force has huge capability gap.

It will also depend on what standard size of squadron the Air Force will adapt. “Squads of 12 to 24 or about 36? It is included in the Flight Plan of the Air Force. I would say the 12 is not enough – way below what is needed by the Air Force,” says the DND official responsible for finance, munition, modernization and material.

Air Force needs more multi-role fighter aircraft | Ang Malaya Net

________________________________________________________________________________

Armed AW-109: Two for Navy, Two for Air Force

Department of National Defense confirms the delivery of four armed brand-new AgustaWestland AW-109E “Power” helicopters. Additional two for the Navy and first two out of eight for Philippine Air Force.

“They are now being assembled and according to a timeline I received, they will be flown to Clark Field, Pampanga for testing and acceptance,” DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo. These helicopters were in the Philippines since late December 2014.

According to Philippine Navy commissioning of these helicopters is scheduled on January 16, 2015. These helis are armed with machine guns and 20mm cannons.

Armed AW-109: Two for Navy, Two for Air Force | Ang Malaya Net

__________________________________________________________________________________

Airbus chooses Philippines as next international training hub

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Airbus SAS, the manufacturer of the largest passenger aircraft, is setting up a training hub in the country, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) announced.

CAAP Director-General William Hotchkiss III said the aircraft builder is bringing in brand new Airbus A330/A340 full flight simulator and associated suite of devices, on top of two A320 simulators.

“The setting [up of the] training center is seen as a major initiative supporting CAAP’s current efforts to support the type rating training of the growing aviation industry,” Hotchkiss said in a statement Sunday, January 4.

The planned Airbus SAS training center was endorsed by CAAP to the Board of Investments (BOI) to entitle the French aircraft maker fiscal and non-fiscal incentives like income tax holidays, duty-free importation of capital equipment, among others.

This development could make the Philippines an international site for Airbus training as the aircraft maker continues to increase its fleet in the Asia Pacific region, Hotchkiss said.

To date, about 9,160 of the total global airplane orders are destined for the region, data from leading aviation information consultancy Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) showed.

Along with such huge order, there is a demand for 192,300 pilots and 215,300 technicians until 2030, CAPA added.

Both flag carrier Philippine Airlines and low-cost airline Cebu Pacific have pending orders for Airbus aircraft.

In 2014 alone, CAAP issued 24,253 airmen licenses.

Airbus SAS is the manufacturing unit of the Airbus Group, a multinational aerospace and defense firm based in Toulouse, France.

At present, the aircraft builder has training centers in Toulouse (southwestern France), Miami, Hamburg, Beijing, and Bangalore.

Its centers provide exclusive training for flight and cabin, including maintenance personnel of Airbus aircraft.

Airbus also built the A380 – the world's largest passenger airliner.

In October, Filipino captain Franklyn Desiderio – the first Filipino certified to fly A380 – safely landed the Emirates’ flagship aircraft at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 for a one-off, commercial flight.

Airbus chooses Philippines as next international training hub

________________________________________________________________________________

 

[Cossack25A1]

No news about the new M113A2s

 

[pr1v4t33r]

Old Case, Latest News... South African ship captain guilty of arms smuggling
globalnation.inquirer.net/116328/south-african-ship-captain-guilty-of-arms-smuggling/

MANILA, Philippines—Justice Secretary Leila de Lima hailed the recent decision of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) to convict a South African ship captain accused of smuggling into the country more than P5 million worth of firearms from Indonesia.

The CTA Third Division last month sentenced Lawrence John Burne to from eight to 10 years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of P8,000 after he was found guilty of unlawful importation as defined under Section 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

“This is a warning to all those who want to harm the economy, those who want to deprive our country of rightful levies, including customs duties and taxes worth millions. Smugglers, regardless of influence or economic stature, have no place in our society but in jail,” De Lima said in a statement. She commended State Prosecutor Ramon Mendoza for the handling of the case even though Burne was still a fugitive after jumping bail.


Court records showed that the Panamanian-registered vessel M/V Ufuk skippered by Burne with 13 crew who were all Georgian nationals arrived in Mariveles, Bataan, from Jakarta in August 2009.


A team from the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police and Philippine Coast Guard found on board 20 wooden crates containing 100 rifles and 10 pistols—all made in Indonesia—worth about P5.6 million.


The ship captain was unable to produce the documents to support the cargo. He was charged with violation of the Tariff and Customs Code for the unlawful arms importation and assessed duties of about P1.3 million. After being charged and detained at the Bureau of Immigration, Burne was able to post P120,000 bail in 2011. He then left the country.

The CTA, however, continued the trial against him, adding: “Once an accused jumps bail, escapes from prison or confinement, or flees to a foreign country, he loses his standing in court and unless he surrenders or submits to the jurisdiction of the court, he is deemed to have waived any right to seek relief therefrom.


.

 

[Ayan81]

No news about the new M113A2s

The ones coming this year are the armored vehicles from Israel (28), no mention on the A2's. Mas nauna pa ang Elbit kaysa kay uncle sam

 

[Cossack25A1]

The ones coming this year are the armored vehicles from Israel (28), no mention on the A2's. Mas nauna pa ang Elbit kaysa kay uncle sam

I see. I guess while the Israelis are modifying the M113s, the Muricans are removing sensitive components in the M113s, giving us watered-down versions.

 

[Aepsilons]

The ones coming this year are the armored vehicles from Israel (28), no mention on the A2's. Mas nauna pa ang Elbit kaysa kay uncle sam

Pas pas diay and maga Israelis kay sa maga 'Kano