PAF now looking for new suppliers of helicopters

MANILA — With the cancellation of the Bell 412 EPI contract from Bell Helicopter and Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), the Philippine Air Force (PAF) is now looking again for possible suppliers capable of supplying with aircraft with similar capabilities.

The possible suppliers and their respective countries would be determined by the research of the technical working group, PAF head Lt. Gen. Galileo Gerard Kintanar said Saturday.

This would follow the same procurement process instituted for the Bell 412 EPI contract, he added.

“As of now we do not want to speculate. the (technical) working group will look into (for) any solution from the east and western countries,” Kintanar said.

The Department of National Defense (DND) earlier issued a notice to CCC terminating the contract for the supply and delivery of 16 units of Bell 412 combat utility helicopters for the PAF.

In a statement, DND public affairs office chief Arsenio Andolong said this is in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive and pursuant to the Government Procurement Law (RA 9184) which authorized contract termination for the convenience of the government.

The move comes after the Canadian government ordered the review of the PHP12-billion deal between the DND and CCC after receiving reports that the Philippines is planning to use the helicopters against rebel forces.

“While the combat utility helicopters being purchased are primarily for thepurpose of transporting personnel and supplies, the Department believes that it does not owe the Canadian government any justification for an outright purchase of equipment from a privately-owned company,” Andolong said.

He also stressed that the DND will continue to pursue the modernization program, and will look into procuring the combat utility helicopters from other countries in lieu of the Bell 412. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)

Popular

PBBM: No ‘political advantage’ behind disclosure of flood control mess in SONA 2025

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet In the fifth episode of the BBM Podcast aired on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. shared his insights on the...

PBBM touts education as the key towards national, social progress

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet “Every project, every policy, every program, every peso must move the needle for Filipino families.” Halfway through his term as the country’s...

On Teachers’ Month, DepEd notes good news for teachers

By Brian Campued As the Philippines joins the global community in honoring the invaluable contributions of teachers in shaping the next generation’s leaders and professionals,...

Phivolcs identifies fault that caused magnitude 6.9 Cebu quake

By Brian Campued State seismologists have located the source of the powerful offshore earthquake that jolted northern Cebu and the rest of Visayas on Sept....