9 firms to bid for P4-B Navy transports

MANILA, Philippines -- Nine firms from different countries have expressed interest to join the initial bidding this month for two brand new Navy transports worth P2 billion each.

Astartez Defense (Philippines), Rescue Solutions JV with Coastal Industries Ptd Ltd (Singapore/Vietnam), PROPMECH Corporation, Daewoo International Corp. (Daesun-Republic of Korea), Larsena and Toubro (India), Stone of David, PT PAL Indonesia (Indonesia), STX Off-Shore Shipbuilding Co. (ROK), Keppel Philippines Marine, Inc. (Philippines), and PT Citra Shipyard (Indonesia) have all purchased documents to participate in the August 29 bidding by the Department of National Defense.

The ships to be bid out are non-combat Strategic Sealift Vessels with Integrated Logistics Support capability to be used for sea- and land-based civil-military operations.

The SSVs are capable of transporting large numbers of military personnel and logistics like trucks, tanks and other supplies, and are equipped with a mini-hospital, a helipad and watercraft that would bolster response capabilities in times of maritime disaster.

The bidding was originally scheduled for August 15 but the schedule was moved amid persistent suggestions that the budget to acquire the SSVs be used instead to purchase modern weapons systems for the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz, the two US Hamilton-class coast guard cutters acquired recently for around P1 billion and which currently form the backbone of the Navy.

However, the terms of the ships’ purchase prohibit the installation of sophisticated weapons systems without the approval of the US Congress. Even then, only systems purchased from the US can be used.

Defense Undersecretary for Finance, Munitions, Installations and Materiel Fernando Manalo earlier admitted that the Navy’s technical working group badly needs an expert or consultant to help them choose the appropriate ships to acquire, including two brand new frigates, worth P9 billion each.

“The Navy needs to hire a consultant because the (ships) that we want to buy are too sophisticated, that’s part of diligence. Hindi tayo puwedeng magkamali dahil ang involved dito ay malaking pera ni Juan dela Cruz (We can’t make a mistake because a lot of Juan dela Cruz’s money is involved),” he said.

The budget for the naval acquisitions will be sourced from the P75-billion Armd Forces modernization package President Benigno Aquino III wants implemented by the end of his term in 2016.

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