Thursday, October 10, 2013

New frigates to guard Malampaya oil-gas separation platform

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10): New frigates to guard Malampaya oil-gas separation platform

The two new frigates that the Department of National Defense (DND) is acquiring for P18-billion will be used to secure the Malampaya oil-gas separation platform.

DND undersecretary for finance, modernization, installations and munitions Fernando Manalo said this is one of the missions that the new ships will be given once they are commissioned in the Philippine Navy (PN).

Aside from this, these naval vessels can also be deployed to maintain the country's presence at the West Philippine Sea.

He added that frigates are the ideal ships for the PN due to their multi-role capability and heavy armament.

"They can even be used to evacuate Filipino workers in hotspots abroad and relocate victims of natural and man-made calamities in safer areas," Manalo stressed.

Manalo defended the long delivery period of the frigates (around 1,460 calendar days) to the fact that these ships are brandnew and designed specifically for the Philippines.

The DND last week opened the bidding program for the P18-billion frigate program.

"Delivery period will be long as these frigates are new-builds," he stated.

Manalo declined to comment on whether the ships will be fitted with anti-ships and anti-aircraft missiles.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=574904

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