MANILA — Aside from the two missile-armed frigates now undergoing construction at Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea, the Philippine Navy (PN) will be getting additional ships of the same class, Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said Wednesday.
Acquisition for these additional frigates will start during Horizon Two of the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP), which is scheduled for 2018 to 2022 and has a budget of roughly PHP300 billion.
“In the PN, you will find this interesting. Aside from the two frigates that are currently being constructed, kukuha pa tayo ng additional (frigates),” Andolong said.
He, however, acknowledged that he has no idea how much money would be provided for the acquisition of these additional frigates.
“Yun ang hindi ko pa alam, dahil siyempre iba-budget, ia-apportion pa yung PHP300 billion (That is what I do not know yet. It’s because there will be a budget allocation. The PHP300 billion will be apportioned),” he stressed.
The two frigates being built by Hyundai Heavy Industries has a contract of PHP18 billion, including its weapon systems and munitions.
It is designed to be capable of engaging air, surface and sub-surface threats. Deliveries are expected to start by 2020 and end on 2021. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
