From the Daily Tribune (Nov 20): DND allotting P300 million for naval facility in Palawan
The Department of National Defense (DND) is allotting more than P300 million for the improvement of a naval facility along Oyster Bay in Palawan, facing the West Philippine Sea where the disputed Kalayaan Islands Group (KIGs) or the Spratlys are located.
The DND, in its official website, opened for public bidding the bases support and logistics system project for the Philippine Navy in Palawan worth P313,614,957.11.
The projects include construction of a pier and harbor with approved budget of P237,121,130.22 and putting up of support facilities, like road networks, worth P76,493,826.89 at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, Puerto Princesa City.
The military’s Western Command (Wescom), particularly the Naval Forces West (Navforwest), welcomed the projects at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay as huge boost to the unit’s capability in performing its tasks, especially in protecting the country’s territorial integrity.
Commodore Natalio Abinuman, Navforwest commander, said that while the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay has an existing pier, the structure is in bad shape.
“If we have like that (improvement projects), it is better because we can properly support our vessels…the pier is rundown and the facilities are not enough like power connection,” said Abinuman.
“Of course, our ships in the West Philippine Sea need support,” added Abinuman.
Aside from extending support to Navy ships in the area, Abinuman also said that improvements on Oyster Bay will surely boost development in the area.
“Hopefully, when the base is fixed through the allocated budget, it will help in the development of the area. It is also for our own good,” said Abinuman.
Abinuman, however, stressed that the improvement projects are not directed against any country, particularly China.
The KIGs or the Spratlys, which are being claimed by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, lie on the West Philippine Sea. Tension between the Philippines and China had been high following Beijing’s increased activities in the disputed area.
Lt. Cheryl Tindog, spokesman of the Wescom, echoed Abinuman’s statements, maintaining that the planned improvement of the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay is really needed.
http://www.tribune.net.ph/nation/dnd-allotting-p300-million-for-naval-facility-in-palawan
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Enrile questions DND’s operations before and after Typhoon Yolanda
From the Business Mirror (Nov 20): Enrile questions DND’s operations before and after Typhoon Yolanda
SENATE Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile on Wednesday grilled Department of National Defense (DND) officials on the department’s operations before and after the onslaught of Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan), and wondered aloud why it did not take the lead in operations to secure and protect concerned communities.
Enrile raised the questions in his interpellation during plenary debates on the DND’s 2014 budget proposal to Sen. Loren Legarda, who chaired the finance subcommittee that deliberated and endorsed the agency’s proposed budget for plenary approval.
“Why is it that the ground troops were not in place to prevent looting and mayhem in the area when they were supposed to maintain order?” he asked.
Enrile said the Armed Forces is usually alerted on weather disturbances in the country so they can “prepare all their resources to assist the population whenever the typhoon passes, including riverine equipment, in order to secure people who are hit by floods.”
“I’m sure they have done that. That’s why I was wondering why people were complaining that there were no communications. The secretary of National Defense can communicate with any member of the military who are in the country at any time, including the Commander in Chief,” he said.
Legarda said she was informed by DND officials that Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was in the area a day before the typhoon made landfall, one brigade was deployed to Leyte, and one platoon to Tacloban City.
Gazmin told reporters after the approval of the DND budget that only one platoon was deployed to Tacloban City at the time since the city had been declared as “insurgency-free” and as such, the police takes the lead there as earlier agreed upon by the National Police and the Armed Forces.
“Since this is a police matter, the National Police should take over… There were soldiers, but only one platoon,” he said.
Legarda gave Enrile the same explanation, to which he said, “You cannot expect the police to operate in a calamity condition because their families are also affected. That’s why we have the military manpower.”
He said this was the reason for the organization of the National Disaster Control Center.
“The military is always the one in command with the calamity operations. They are the first one to be on the scene,” Enrile said.
Legarda insisted that the Armed Forces “was not remiss” in its duties in relation to Typhoon Yolanda. Mia Gonzalez.
Disqualified armor-vest supplier seeks DND panel’s reconsideration
From the Business Mirror (Jul 20): Disqualified armor-vest supplier seeks DND panel’s reconsideration
THE Korean company that submitted the lowest bid for the supply of 44,080 armor vests for the Marines and the Army, but was disqualified at the post-bidding stage by the Department of National Defense’s Bids and Awards Committed (DND-BAC), has asked the panel to reconsider its decision.
THE Korean company that submitted the lowest bid for the supply of 44,080 armor vests for the Marines and the Army, but was disqualified at the post-bidding stage by the Department of National Defense’s Bids and Awards Committed (DND-BAC), has asked the panel to reconsider its decision.
Kolon Global Corp., through its lawyers Dennis Manalo,
Noel Lazaro and Darwin Ocampo, asked the DND-BAC, headed by Defense Assistant
Secretary Efren Fernandez, to reconsider its earlier decision and reinstate the
company as the winner, owing to the “absence of legal and justifiable reasons
by the committee.”
“The grounds you relied upon in post-disqualifying
Kolon are bereft of support, either from the bidding documents, where there are
categorical, positive and unmistakable definition or, where not so defined
therein, from the widely and internationally accepted standard design of
measurement,” the lawyers said in the reconsideration they filed for the Korean
company on November 15.
“Accordingly, Kolon respectfully pleads for the
reconsideration of our client’s post-disqualification and requests for its
reinstatement as the winning bidder of the project,” they added.
Manalo, Lazaro and Ocampo asked the DND-BAC to
seriously look into the merits of the proposal of the Korean company and rule
in its favor, otherwise it will not only violate the government’s procurement
process, but even reinforces the belief that it is playing favorites.
“Any unwarranted and unjustifiable claim to the
contrary trivializes the country’s procurement policy and effort, especially in
these trying times, and lends credence to a possibility that the BAC is playing
favorites instead of weighing our client’s merits,” the three lawyers said in
their letter.
Kolon maintained that it did not only meet the
requirements of the DND for the soldiers’ force-protection gear, but even
surpassed industry standards.
The DND-BAC has accepted, evaluated and considered the
bid of P800 million by Kolon for the P1.763.2- billion armor vests of the Army
and the Marines, but it later disqualified Kolon in a post-qualification
meeting on November 11, because it claimed the ballistic inserts (armor plates)
of the Korean vest manufacturer are of “single-curve design” and the samples
have shorter dimensional measurements than required.
The DND-BAC required a “multi-curve design” for the
ballistic inserts “to avoid the possibility of body injury due to secondary
impact of plate to the body upon the bullet impact, create an angle of
incidence for increased bullet deflection and for better ergonomic fitting and
comfort.”
However, the lawyers said the BAC erred in declaring
that Kolon’s body armors are single-curve in design.
“Our client’s design is multi-curve. Kolon uses human
factors in engineering data points within a three-axis plane to decide on the
radius used in its plates. The curvature of the plate follows the shape of the
human torso as closely as possible in order to maximize performance and
comfort,” they said.
“Kolon had already taken into consideration the
contours in the body in making its body armors,” they added. “In fact, Kolon
has made various scientific studies to surpass industry standards and provide
the best protection possible.”
“The DND without any substantial justification
deprived Kolon of its right to be awarded as the winning bidder. Our client
offered the best bid for the project. In fact, it was even declared as the
Lowest Calculated Bid-- the second lowest bid trailing behind by a staggering
P357,000,000,” the three lawyers said.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/news/nation/23115-disqualified-armor-vest-supplier-seeks-dnd-panel-s-reconsideration
NPA rebels torch construction equipment
From the Mindanao Examiner blog site (Nov 21): NPA rebels torch construction equipment
Communist rebels torched construction equipment in a raid in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, an army spokesman said.
Captain Jefferson Somera, of the 1st Infantry Division, said about 15 New People’s Army rebels raided the village of Titik in the town of Sindangan. He said there was no report of casualties in the attack.
He said the equipment is owned by the ESR Construction Company which is working on a government road project in the province.
Police said among the raiders were four women and that the attack was triggered by the failure of the firm owner, Edmario Sandalo Revelo to pay so-called revolutionary taxes to the rebel group.
"Before the incident there were negotiations on the matter, but unintentionally the rebel group noticed a team of army patrolling in the area and believed that the contractor reported to the team of army prompting them to burn the heavy equipment," said Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman.
"Prior to the incident, the (NPA) group had asked for medicines to the contractor that would be dropped at Josefina (town) in Zamboanga Del Sur at night time near the Saint Claire monastery," he added.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA about the raid, but the rebels have been waging a secessionist war the past decades.
http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/11/npa-rebels-torch-construction-equipment.html
Communist rebels torched construction equipment in a raid in the southern Philippine province of Zamboanga del Norte, an army spokesman said.
Captain Jefferson Somera, of the 1st Infantry Division, said about 15 New People’s Army rebels raided the village of Titik in the town of Sindangan. He said there was no report of casualties in the attack.
He said the equipment is owned by the ESR Construction Company which is working on a government road project in the province.
Police said among the raiders were four women and that the attack was triggered by the failure of the firm owner, Edmario Sandalo Revelo to pay so-called revolutionary taxes to the rebel group.
"Before the incident there were negotiations on the matter, but unintentionally the rebel group noticed a team of army patrolling in the area and believed that the contractor reported to the team of army prompting them to burn the heavy equipment," said Chief Inspector Ariel Huesca, a regional police spokesman.
"Prior to the incident, the (NPA) group had asked for medicines to the contractor that would be dropped at Josefina (town) in Zamboanga Del Sur at night time near the Saint Claire monastery," he added.
There was no immediate statement from the NPA about the raid, but the rebels have been waging a secessionist war the past decades.
http://mindanaoexaminer.blogspot.com/2013/11/npa-rebels-torch-construction-equipment.html
From warriors to delivery boys - soldiers serve as workhorses of Yolanda relief efforts
From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 20): From warriors to delivery boys - soldiers serve as workhorses of Yolanda relief efforts
Since day one of the relief operations for the destitute people of Leyte and Western Samar stricken by super typhoon Yolanda, government efforts to bring vital aid to the affected areas had steadily increased both in pace and volume.
Starting from scratch, the logistics hub based inTacloban
City is now delivering relief goods
daily to 24 Leyte towns including this city.
The 24 towns are Abuyog, Sta. Fe, Barugo, Javier, San Miguel, Tunga, Julieta, Capoocan, Carigara, Julita, Mac Arthur and Jaro.
Also included are Tolosa, Burauen, Tanauan, Tabon-Tabon, Babatngon,La Paz
These towns are currently receiving 60 sacks of rice daily – up from 30 sacks a day just four days ago - besides other relief goods such as water, canned goods, blankets and tents among others.
The marked improvement in both the pace of delivery and volume of relief goods in the aforementioned towns is mostly due to the influx of aid by air and sea from local and international donors.
But all of these would not have been accomplished without the men and women of the Armed Forces of thePhilippines
Their task is simple – work as the delivery boys of relief goods.
At first, many of these soldiers believed that their task was just to provide security to relief trucks going in and out of the affected areas.
Among them is Army Pfc. Ronie Cendeño, who is a member of the 71st Infantry Brigade based in Bulacan prior to his deployment inTacloban City
“We thought that we have just to escort relief vehicles to their destinations to counter any security threats,” he told the Philippines News Agency Wednesday while en route to Dulag, Leyte, the second of three towns they were to deliver relief goods for the day
Like any other member of his team, he soon found out that aside from running shotgun to relief caravans, they were also to provide the needed muscles – as loaders and unloaders of goods.
His colleague, Pvt. Buenaventura Raygon, said that once they parked their army truck to be loaded, their team would load it themselves.
Upon reaching their destination, the system is reversed – they now unload the trucks of its contents.
“It is exhausting work but we have no complaints. Part of our job as soldiers is to mobilize as a rescue and relief force. We are just hoping that civilians would help us on both ends to somewhat ease some the burden on our part,” Cendeño said.
But if they are the delivery boys, there is also the dispatcher who organizes the movement and schedules of several teams of delivery boys.
He is Lt. Col. Ray Anthony Tumaliuan, the unit commander of the task group for relief operations based at the City Hardware depot in Tacloban city which was designated as the hub of relief operations.
Tumaliuan is a member of the elite Scout Ranger Regiment with four gold crosses to his name.
“I am a scout ranger and an expert in airborne operations; yet here I am – a dispatcher,” he jokingly told the PNA.
But there is one thing that set him apart from most other military men: he is also an expert in crisis management having undertaken one year of training inAustralia
Under his command are 130 soldiers with 5 military and five civilian vehicles.
Of the 15 military trucks: 8 are assigned to ferry deliver relief supplies to the aforementioned towns; 4 are for Tacloban City deliveries; 2 are used to ferry goods from the pier to the distribution hub; and 1 is used to ferry goods from the airport.
Tumaliuan said an ordinary day for them starts at 5 a.m. when they begin to load the military trucks for the first deliveries of the day.
“Each truck had three specific towns to service. Once they accomplished their first deliveries, they immediately return here, wait for their turn to be reloaded and off they go until they have finished deliveries to the three towns that are assigned to,” he explained.
Throughout the day, he keeps track of the whereabouts of his trucks, the state of their road-worthiness and the well-being of his men.
He ensures that all of the 24 towns were provisioned daily – no small task with one who has limited logistics.
“My day usually ends around midnight when the last of the trucks arrive back. We usually wake up at four a.m. so there is not much rest, not even time to take a bath sometimes,” he said.
For Tumaliuan and his men, it is just all part of their sworn duty to the Filipino people.
The same can be said to all the other AFP units deployed elsewhere – in the piers, in the airports and in the warehouses.
From fearless warriors, they have become tireless deliverymen of aid to the destitute victims of typhoon Yolanda.
These are the gallant men of the AFP – the workhorses of the government’s relief efforts.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=588863
Since day one of the relief operations for the destitute people of Leyte and Western Samar stricken by super typhoon Yolanda, government efforts to bring vital aid to the affected areas had steadily increased both in pace and volume.
Starting from scratch, the logistics hub based in
The 24 towns are Abuyog, Sta. Fe, Barugo, Javier, San Miguel, Tunga, Julieta, Capoocan, Carigara, Julita, Mac Arthur and Jaro.
Also included are Tolosa, Burauen, Tanauan, Tabon-Tabon, Babatngon,
These towns are currently receiving 60 sacks of rice daily – up from 30 sacks a day just four days ago - besides other relief goods such as water, canned goods, blankets and tents among others.
The marked improvement in both the pace of delivery and volume of relief goods in the aforementioned towns is mostly due to the influx of aid by air and sea from local and international donors.
But all of these would not have been accomplished without the men and women of the Armed Forces of the
Their task is simple – work as the delivery boys of relief goods.
At first, many of these soldiers believed that their task was just to provide security to relief trucks going in and out of the affected areas.
Among them is Army Pfc. Ronie Cendeño, who is a member of the 71st Infantry Brigade based in Bulacan prior to his deployment in
“We thought that we have just to escort relief vehicles to their destinations to counter any security threats,” he told the Philippines News Agency Wednesday while en route to Dulag, Leyte, the second of three towns they were to deliver relief goods for the day
Like any other member of his team, he soon found out that aside from running shotgun to relief caravans, they were also to provide the needed muscles – as loaders and unloaders of goods.
His colleague, Pvt. Buenaventura Raygon, said that once they parked their army truck to be loaded, their team would load it themselves.
Upon reaching their destination, the system is reversed – they now unload the trucks of its contents.
“It is exhausting work but we have no complaints. Part of our job as soldiers is to mobilize as a rescue and relief force. We are just hoping that civilians would help us on both ends to somewhat ease some the burden on our part,” Cendeño said.
But if they are the delivery boys, there is also the dispatcher who organizes the movement and schedules of several teams of delivery boys.
He is Lt. Col. Ray Anthony Tumaliuan, the unit commander of the task group for relief operations based at the City Hardware depot in Tacloban city which was designated as the hub of relief operations.
Tumaliuan is a member of the elite Scout Ranger Regiment with four gold crosses to his name.
“I am a scout ranger and an expert in airborne operations; yet here I am – a dispatcher,” he jokingly told the PNA.
But there is one thing that set him apart from most other military men: he is also an expert in crisis management having undertaken one year of training in
Under his command are 130 soldiers with 5 military and five civilian vehicles.
Of the 15 military trucks: 8 are assigned to ferry deliver relief supplies to the aforementioned towns; 4 are for Tacloban City deliveries; 2 are used to ferry goods from the pier to the distribution hub; and 1 is used to ferry goods from the airport.
Tumaliuan said an ordinary day for them starts at 5 a.m. when they begin to load the military trucks for the first deliveries of the day.
“Each truck had three specific towns to service. Once they accomplished their first deliveries, they immediately return here, wait for their turn to be reloaded and off they go until they have finished deliveries to the three towns that are assigned to,” he explained.
Throughout the day, he keeps track of the whereabouts of his trucks, the state of their road-worthiness and the well-being of his men.
He ensures that all of the 24 towns were provisioned daily – no small task with one who has limited logistics.
“My day usually ends around midnight when the last of the trucks arrive back. We usually wake up at four a.m. so there is not much rest, not even time to take a bath sometimes,” he said.
For Tumaliuan and his men, it is just all part of their sworn duty to the Filipino people.
The same can be said to all the other AFP units deployed elsewhere – in the piers, in the airports and in the warehouses.
From fearless warriors, they have become tireless deliverymen of aid to the destitute victims of typhoon Yolanda.
These are the gallant men of the AFP – the workhorses of the government’s relief efforts.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=588863
China's Peace Ark departs for the Philippines Thursday
From the Philippine News Agency (Nov 20): China's Peace Ark departs for the Philippines Thursday
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship the Peace Ark will depart on a typhoon relief mission to thePhilippines
With full-load displacement of 14,300 tons, the hospital ship has 300 beds, 20 ICUs, eight operating theaters, and can accommodate 40 major procedures a day.
"We hope its mission will help ease the lack of medical services in the disaster areas in thePhilippines
The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) stands at 4,011, the Philippine disaster agency said Wednesday. The number of those injured has risen to 18,557, while 1,602 people remained missing.
China
Besides the hospital ship, emergency medical and rescue teams of 16 rescue workers from the China Red Cross departed on Wednesday, he said.
A second batch will depart on Saturday and another medical team of 51 emergency personnel will depart "soon," Hong said.
Th China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) has provided 200 prefabricated houses, worth about 3.2 million yuan (about 525,000 U.S. dollars). Chinese humanitarian aid arrived on Monday and Tuesday in the central Philippine city ofCebu
The relief aid, including tents and blankets, was shipped by a China Eastern Airlines cargo plane and handed over to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development. It will now be sent to Tacloban, one of the worst-hit cities in the central Philippineprovince
of Leyte
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=588997
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship the Peace Ark will depart on a typhoon relief mission to the
With full-load displacement of 14,300 tons, the hospital ship has 300 beds, 20 ICUs, eight operating theaters, and can accommodate 40 major procedures a day.
"We hope its mission will help ease the lack of medical services in the disaster areas in the
The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) stands at 4,011, the Philippine disaster agency said Wednesday. The number of those injured has risen to 18,557, while 1,602 people remained missing.
Besides the hospital ship, emergency medical and rescue teams of 16 rescue workers from the China Red Cross departed on Wednesday, he said.
A second batch will depart on Saturday and another medical team of 51 emergency personnel will depart "soon," Hong said.
Th China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) has provided 200 prefabricated houses, worth about 3.2 million yuan (about 525,000 U.S. dollars). Chinese humanitarian aid arrived on Monday and Tuesday in the central Philippine city of
The relief aid, including tents and blankets, was shipped by a China Eastern Airlines cargo plane and handed over to the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development. It will now be sent to Tacloban, one of the worst-hit cities in the central Philippine
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=588997
Kerry to visit PH in December
From Rappler (Nov 20): Kerry to visit PH in December
After postponing his trip to the Philippines due to a storm,US
“Hopefully, there would be no storm,” said Sen Loren Legarda who made the announcement during budget deliberations at the Senate on Wednesday, November 20.
Legarda was responding to questions from Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile as the Senate tackled the 2014 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Legarda was the vice-chair of the finance sub-committee that took up the DFA budget.
“Allow me to give the information to your honor that Secretary Kerry is indeed coming in two weeks’ time, by December,” she said.
Kerry was supposed to visit thePhilippines in October to represent US President
Barack Obama, who cancelled his
trip to the country following America Summit in Brunei
Yet the topUS diplomat postponed his own trip ahead of
Tropical Storm Santi (Nari), which hit Central Luzon .
“Because of the judgment of our pilots… and the approaching typhoon, we are going to postpone the trip that I was going to make to thePhilippines
“I’m coming back to the region and I look forward to visiting… our friends in thePhilippines
Kerry’s December trip comes as theUS extends assistance to
the Philippines Philippines
TheUS
The Secretary of State said in a statement on November 11, “I want to assure the people of thePhilippines
Kerry’s trip also coincides with the Obama administration’s so-called pivot to Asia,Washington US effort to counter China
Enrile: Reason for postponement ‘flimsy’
Yet in his interpellation, Enrile said Kerry’s reason for postponing his October trip was “flimsy,” suggesting it might have indicated strains in thePhilippines ’
ties with the US
The former Senate President said the Kerry could have used theUS
Enrile said he discussed the issue to “satisfy his curiosity.” The former defense minister pointed out that during the martial law, a trip cancellation of then President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan led to “political relations deteriorating” between the two countries.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to give details on Kerry’s trip but President Benigno Aquino III said that the secretary’s October visit was supposed to touch on:
South China Sea . Aquino said the absence of this Code of
Conduct “adds to the sense of uncertainty, which is not a factor that would
enhance stability and prosperity for all parties concerned.”
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44178-kerry-to-visit-ph-december
After postponing his trip to the Philippines due to a storm,
“Hopefully, there would be no storm,” said Sen Loren Legarda who made the announcement during budget deliberations at the Senate on Wednesday, November 20.
Legarda was responding to questions from Senate Minority Leader Juan Ponce Enrile as the Senate tackled the 2014 budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Legarda was the vice-chair of the finance sub-committee that took up the DFA budget.
“Allow me to give the information to your honor that Secretary Kerry is indeed coming in two weeks’ time, by December,” she said.
Kerry was supposed to visit the
Yet the top
“Because of the judgment of our pilots… and the approaching typhoon, we are going to postpone the trip that I was going to make to the
“I’m coming back to the region and I look forward to visiting… our friends in the
Kerry’s December trip comes as the
The
The Secretary of State said in a statement on November 11, “I want to assure the people of the
Kerry’s trip also coincides with the Obama administration’s so-called pivot to Asia,
Enrile: Reason for postponement ‘flimsy’
Yet in his interpellation, Enrile said Kerry’s reason for postponing his October trip was “flimsy,” suggesting it might have indicated strains in the
The former Senate President said the Kerry could have used the
Enrile said he discussed the issue to “satisfy his curiosity.” The former defense minister pointed out that during the martial law, a trip cancellation of then President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan led to “political relations deteriorating” between the two countries.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to give details on Kerry’s trip but President Benigno Aquino III said that the secretary’s October visit was supposed to touch on:
- The
framework agreement on boosting US troops' presence in the Philippines
- US “intentions” in Syria, considering around 3,000 Filipinos remain in the strife-torn country.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44178-kerry-to-visit-ph-december
FAST FACTS: South China Sea, a decades-long source of tension
Posted to Rappler (Nov 18): FAST FACTS: South China Sea, a decades-long source of tension
DISPUTED. This territory west of thePhilippines
Rival claims to the South China Sea have for decades been a source of tension in the region.
The disputes are expected to be on the agenda during 3 days of talks involving the region's leaders that began in Cambodia on Sunday, November 18.
Below are key facts on the sea and the competing claims:
GEOGRAPHY
The South China Sea covers more than 3 million square kilometres (1.16 million square miles) on the western edge of the Pacific, with China and Taiwan to the north, the Philippines to the east, Borneo island to the south, and Vietnam to the west.
It contains hundreds of small islands, islets and rocks, most of which are uninhabited. The Paracel and Spratly chains contain the biggest islands.
SIGNIFICANCE
The sea is the main maritime link between the Pacific and Indian oceans, giving it enormous trade and military value. Its shipping lanes connect East Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
Major unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under the seabed.
The sea is home to some of world's biggest coral reefs and, with marine life being depleted close to coasts, it is becoming increasingly important as a source of fish to feed growing populations.
CLAIMANTS
China and Taiwan both claim nearly all of the sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each have often overlapping claims to parts of it.
China's claim is based on a historical map of "nine dashes" that approaches the coast of other countries. But rival countries complain the dashes are kept deliberately vague so that no one knows China's exact claims.
NAME
Beijing and most other countries know it as the South China Sea. Hanoi calls it the East Sea and Manila officially refers to it as the West Philippine Sea.
OCCUPATION/CONTROL
China has held all of the Paracel islands since a conflict with South Vietnam in 1974 that left 53 Vietnamese military personnel dead.
Vietnam is believed to occupy or control more than 20 of the Spratly islands and reefs, the most of any claimant.
Taiwan has a garrison controlled by its coastguard on Itu Aba island, which is called Taiping in Chinese and is the largest in the Spratlys. Taiwan announced in July it would deploy longer-range artillery there.
The Philippines occupies nine of the Spratlys, including Thitu island, the second largest in the area. The Philippines has a military presence and civilians living on Thitu, which it calls Pagasa.
China occupies at least seven of the Spratlys including Johnson Reef, which it gained after a naval battle with Vietnam in 1988.
Malaysia occupies three of the Spratlys. The most significant presence is on Swallow Reef, called Layang Layang Island in Malaysia, where it has a naval post and a diving resort.
Brunei does not occupy any land formation but claims a submerged reef and a submerged bank in the Spratlys.
TENSIONS -- CHINA/VIETNAM
Aside from the 1974 battle for the Paracels, the only other major conflict occurred when Vietnam and China fought a naval battle on Johnson Reef in the Spratlys in 1988 that left 70 Vietnamese military personnel dead.
However, Chinese naval vessels have fired at other times on Vietnamese fishing boats in the area.
In 2011, Vietnam accused Chinese marine surveillance vessels of cutting an oil survey ship's exploration cables, sparking nationalist protests in Vietnamese cities.
In June this year, Vietnam passed a law proclaiming its jurisdiction over all of the Paracel and Spratly islands, triggering Chinese protests.
At about the same time China announced it had created a new city, Sansha, on one of the Paracel islands, which would administer Chinese rule over its South China Sea domain.
TENSIONS -- CHINA/PHILIPPINES
In 1995, China began building structures on Mischief Reef, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Tensions between the two nations started to ratchet up significantly in March 2011, when Chinese vessels harassed a Philippine-chartered gas exploration vessel at Reed Bank.
The Philippines then accused the Chinese of a pattern of intimidation, including firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen and laying buoys around Philippine-claimed islets.
A stand-off between Chinese and Philippine vessels that began in April this year at Scarborough Shoal further inflamed tensions. Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario accused China of "duplicity" and "intimidation".
DIPLOMACY
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China adopted a non-binding "declaration of conduct" in 2002 to discourage hostile acts.
But attempts to turn it into a legally binding "code of conduct" have failed.
The dispute has created divisions within ASEAN. A meeting of foreign ministers in July ended for the first time in the bloc's 45-year history without a joint statement because of infighting over the issue.
Meeting host Cambodia, a China ally, rejected a Philippine push for the statement to take a harder line against the Chinese.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44183-philippines-upgrade-naval-detachment-spratlys
DISPUTED. This territory west of the
Rival claims to the South China Sea have for decades been a source of tension in the region.
The disputes are expected to be on the agenda during 3 days of talks involving the region's leaders that began in Cambodia on Sunday, November 18.
Below are key facts on the sea and the competing claims:
GEOGRAPHY
The South China Sea covers more than 3 million square kilometres (1.16 million square miles) on the western edge of the Pacific, with China and Taiwan to the north, the Philippines to the east, Borneo island to the south, and Vietnam to the west.
It contains hundreds of small islands, islets and rocks, most of which are uninhabited. The Paracel and Spratly chains contain the biggest islands.
SIGNIFICANCE
The sea is the main maritime link between the Pacific and Indian oceans, giving it enormous trade and military value. Its shipping lanes connect East Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
Major unexploited oil and gas deposits are believed to lie under the seabed.
The sea is home to some of world's biggest coral reefs and, with marine life being depleted close to coasts, it is becoming increasingly important as a source of fish to feed growing populations.
CLAIMANTS
China and Taiwan both claim nearly all of the sea, while Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei each have often overlapping claims to parts of it.
China's claim is based on a historical map of "nine dashes" that approaches the coast of other countries. But rival countries complain the dashes are kept deliberately vague so that no one knows China's exact claims.
NAME
Beijing and most other countries know it as the South China Sea. Hanoi calls it the East Sea and Manila officially refers to it as the West Philippine Sea.
OCCUPATION/CONTROL
China has held all of the Paracel islands since a conflict with South Vietnam in 1974 that left 53 Vietnamese military personnel dead.
Vietnam is believed to occupy or control more than 20 of the Spratly islands and reefs, the most of any claimant.
Taiwan has a garrison controlled by its coastguard on Itu Aba island, which is called Taiping in Chinese and is the largest in the Spratlys. Taiwan announced in July it would deploy longer-range artillery there.
The Philippines occupies nine of the Spratlys, including Thitu island, the second largest in the area. The Philippines has a military presence and civilians living on Thitu, which it calls Pagasa.
China occupies at least seven of the Spratlys including Johnson Reef, which it gained after a naval battle with Vietnam in 1988.
Malaysia occupies three of the Spratlys. The most significant presence is on Swallow Reef, called Layang Layang Island in Malaysia, where it has a naval post and a diving resort.
Brunei does not occupy any land formation but claims a submerged reef and a submerged bank in the Spratlys.
TENSIONS -- CHINA/VIETNAM
Aside from the 1974 battle for the Paracels, the only other major conflict occurred when Vietnam and China fought a naval battle on Johnson Reef in the Spratlys in 1988 that left 70 Vietnamese military personnel dead.
However, Chinese naval vessels have fired at other times on Vietnamese fishing boats in the area.
In 2011, Vietnam accused Chinese marine surveillance vessels of cutting an oil survey ship's exploration cables, sparking nationalist protests in Vietnamese cities.
In June this year, Vietnam passed a law proclaiming its jurisdiction over all of the Paracel and Spratly islands, triggering Chinese protests.
At about the same time China announced it had created a new city, Sansha, on one of the Paracel islands, which would administer Chinese rule over its South China Sea domain.
TENSIONS -- CHINA/PHILIPPINES
In 1995, China began building structures on Mischief Reef, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Tensions between the two nations started to ratchet up significantly in March 2011, when Chinese vessels harassed a Philippine-chartered gas exploration vessel at Reed Bank.
The Philippines then accused the Chinese of a pattern of intimidation, including firing warning shots at Filipino fishermen and laying buoys around Philippine-claimed islets.
A stand-off between Chinese and Philippine vessels that began in April this year at Scarborough Shoal further inflamed tensions. Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario accused China of "duplicity" and "intimidation".
DIPLOMACY
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China adopted a non-binding "declaration of conduct" in 2002 to discourage hostile acts.
But attempts to turn it into a legally binding "code of conduct" have failed.
The dispute has created divisions within ASEAN. A meeting of foreign ministers in July ended for the first time in the bloc's 45-year history without a joint statement because of infighting over the issue.
Meeting host Cambodia, a China ally, rejected a Philippine push for the statement to take a harder line against the Chinese.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44183-philippines-upgrade-naval-detachment-spratlys
PH to upgrade naval detachment facing Spratlys
From Rappler (Nov 20): PH to upgrade naval detachment facing Spratlys
ThePhilippines is upgrading the facilities of a
naval detachment in Oyster Bay in Puerto
Princesa City ,
a location that is extremely strategic to the military because it is facing the
disputed Kalayaan Group of Islands (Spratlys) in the West Philipine
Sea
A pier, harbor, and support facilities will be constructed at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay using P313.6 million from the Department of Energy Capital Outlay.
"The DND/AFP now invites bids for the acquisition of Bases Support and Logistics System Project of the Philippine Navy, particularly for Lot 10 and 11, inPuerto Princesa
City , Palawan ,"
reads the invitation to bid posted on the website of the Department of National
Defense (DND).
The project comes at a time whenManila is caught in a row with Beijing over the West
Philippines Sea
(South China Sea ). The Philippines has lodged a complaint before the
United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) against China , which virtually claims all of South China Sea . (READ: FAST FACTS: South China Sea, a decades-long source of tension)
"This will improve our support system for the ships we deploy in theWest
Philippine Sea ," said Commodore Natalio Abinuman, commander
of the Naval Forces West, on Wednesday, November 20.
The naval detachment has a pier and harbor, but it lacks facilities for the refueling of ships. There is no power cable connection either.
The construction of the pier and harbor has been allocated P237 million, while construction of the support facilities has a budget of P76.5 million. The construction should be completed 406 calendar days and 250 calendar days, respectively, from the opening of Letter of Credit.
The open competitive bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, and partnerships or organizations with at least 75% interest or outstanding capital stocks belonging to Filipino citizens.
The bid will open on December 2. "Bidders should have completed within the last ten (10 years) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project," the invitation to bid added.
The
A pier, harbor, and support facilities will be constructed at the Naval Detachment Oyster Bay using P313.6 million from the Department of Energy Capital Outlay.
"The DND/AFP now invites bids for the acquisition of Bases Support and Logistics System Project of the Philippine Navy, particularly for Lot 10 and 11, in
The project comes at a time when
"This will improve our support system for the ships we deploy in the
The naval detachment has a pier and harbor, but it lacks facilities for the refueling of ships. There is no power cable connection either.
The construction of the pier and harbor has been allocated P237 million, while construction of the support facilities has a budget of P76.5 million. The construction should be completed 406 calendar days and 250 calendar days, respectively, from the opening of Letter of Credit.
The open competitive bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens, sole proprietorships, and partnerships or organizations with at least 75% interest or outstanding capital stocks belonging to Filipino citizens.
The bid will open on December 2. "Bidders should have completed within the last ten (10 years) from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the project," the invitation to bid added.
Haiyan crisis: No ground commander
From Rappler (Nov 20): Haiyan crisis: No ground commander
'NO SINGLE BOSS.' Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says there's no ground commander in Haiyan relief efforts. Photo by Rupert Ambil/Rappler
TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines
Other than the President, in the public eye, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is the face of the team to rebuild the lives of almost 10 million people hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
But no, Roxas is not the ground commander.
He said no one actually is.
“There is no such title,” Roxas said in a media briefing Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, he noted, chairs the National Risk Reduction and Management Council. He said Gazmin farms out tasks to other officials.
That's the general set-up.
But on the ground, who is the point person? Who calls the shots in the command center based in typhoon-hitTacloban City
Roxas shot back, “Wala.” (No one).
“You can see the process that is being undertaken, and it is a consultative process,” said the President's former running mate in the 2010 presidential race, who has taken lead roles in other national crises. (Watch more in the video below.)
[Video: No ground commander in Haiyan crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGzQPNw1wiQ]
'Many bosses, no decision-maker'
Rappler went around the command center, the Leyte Sports Complex, to get a feel of the set-up there. The aid workers we spoke to said they're not sure who's really the boss. (READ: Have a national conductor, says Salceda)
This set-up frustrates a number of them.
“Nang mag-take over ang national government, ang nangyari, parang maraming amo pero walang nagdedesisyon,” an aid worker said on condition of anonymity. (When the national government took over, what happened is that we have so many bosses but nobody makes decisions.)
It's the same thing that happened, at first, in theZamboanga
City
On Tuesday evening, November 19, Tacloban city administrator Tecson Lim addressed another problem: politics getting in the way of aid. (READ: Tacloban: Spare aid from politics.)
“Let us focus on what we have to do, and not allow those who would wish to take opportunity of this situation to further whatever political goals or whatever interest they may have, and divert us from that which we have to do,” Lim said.
Lim said this after Aquino and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez traded barbs over Yolanda.
In apparent reference to Tacloban, Aquino criticized towns and cities that failed to prepare for the typhoon. Romualdez shot back, hinting the President's comments insult the dead. (Watch Rappler's video report below.)
[Video: Aquino, Romualdez trade barbs over Haiyan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FveIlDCBQDE]
Roxas and Romualdez have also taken potshots at each other.
Reports said Roxas requested Romualdez to give up the mayor's office. To these reports, Roxas replied he is furious and said, "They better be careful in spreading lies." (READ: City admin denies Roxas wants Tacloban mayor out.)
'We're doing our job'
In Wednesday's press briefing, Roxas said nothing is wrong about the current set-up. He said the bottom line is, the government is doing its job.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, magmula Biyernes, nang dumating si Yolanda, nasaan na ba tayo ngayon? Nabuksan ang airport, nabuksan ang seaport, operational na. Lahat ng main supply routes, bukas. Lahat ng mga bayan, accessible. More than 860,000 food packs na ang naipamahagi. One thousand six hundred cadavers na ang na-recover dito saTacloban City
(All I can say is, since Friday when Yolanda struck, where do we find ourselves now? The airport is open, the seaport is open, all operational. All supply routes are open. All towns are accessible. More than 860,000 food packs have been distributed. One thousand six hundred cadavers have been recovered here inTacloban City
“Lahat itong trabahong ito, kabuuan nito ay national government,” he said. (All of these things, all of these are by the national government.)
He also said each official gets his own assignment.
The commander of Task Force Yolanda, for instance, is Brigadier General Jet Velarmino, head of the military's 8th infantry division that commands troops based inEastern Visayas . “That's for certain purposes,” Roxas
said.
He said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman also works “for certain purposes.”
'Our boss, the people'
Backing Roxas, Soliman said the administration adopts a “convergent approach.”
“Ibig sabihin, lahat kami, one team. Kaya 'pag sinabing sino'ng in charge, lahat kami answerable to, first of all, the people. As the President always says, sila ang boss. And then, yung accountability lines namin, sa Presidente,” Soliman said.
(You know, this administration believes in a convergent approach. This means we all work as one team. So if you say who's in charge, everyone of us is answerable to, first of all, the people. As the President says, they're the boss. And our accountability lines go straight to the President.)
She also called the response to Haiyan a “whole of government approach.” Then, she broke down in tears.
“Lahat kami, buong pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal, kumikilos as one. But more than that, 'yun ang gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat – it's also whole of society. Lahat ng private sector, lahat ng volunteers, lahat ng volunteers dito sa Tacloban, nagre-repack sila. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. Nagkaisa ang bansa; 'yun ang ating mensahe,” Soliman said.
(Everyone of us, the whole of government, national and local, move as one. But more than this, what I want everyone to know – it's also whole of society. The entire private sector, all volunteers, all volunteers here in Tacloban are repacking. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. The nation is working as one; that's our message.)
Still, it's a “whole of society” without a ground commander.
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/44165-haiyan-yolanda-ground-commander-roxas
'NO SINGLE BOSS.' Interior Secretary Mar Roxas says there's no ground commander in Haiyan relief efforts. Photo by Rupert Ambil/Rappler
Other than the President, in the public eye, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas is the face of the team to rebuild the lives of almost 10 million people hit by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).
But no, Roxas is not the ground commander.
He said no one actually is.
“There is no such title,” Roxas said in a media briefing Wednesday.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, he noted, chairs the National Risk Reduction and Management Council. He said Gazmin farms out tasks to other officials.
That's the general set-up.
But on the ground, who is the point person? Who calls the shots in the command center based in typhoon-hit
Roxas shot back, “Wala.” (No one).
“You can see the process that is being undertaken, and it is a consultative process,” said the President's former running mate in the 2010 presidential race, who has taken lead roles in other national crises. (Watch more in the video below.)
[Video: No ground commander in Haiyan crisis
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGzQPNw1wiQ]
'Many bosses, no decision-maker'
Rappler went around the command center, the Leyte Sports Complex, to get a feel of the set-up there. The aid workers we spoke to said they're not sure who's really the boss. (READ: Have a national conductor, says Salceda)
This set-up frustrates a number of them.
“Nang mag-take over ang national government, ang nangyari, parang maraming amo pero walang nagdedesisyon,” an aid worker said on condition of anonymity. (When the national government took over, what happened is that we have so many bosses but nobody makes decisions.)
It's the same thing that happened, at first, in the
On Tuesday evening, November 19, Tacloban city administrator Tecson Lim addressed another problem: politics getting in the way of aid. (READ: Tacloban: Spare aid from politics.)
“Let us focus on what we have to do, and not allow those who would wish to take opportunity of this situation to further whatever political goals or whatever interest they may have, and divert us from that which we have to do,” Lim said.
Lim said this after Aquino and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez traded barbs over Yolanda.
In apparent reference to Tacloban, Aquino criticized towns and cities that failed to prepare for the typhoon. Romualdez shot back, hinting the President's comments insult the dead. (Watch Rappler's video report below.)
[Video: Aquino, Romualdez trade barbs over Haiyan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FveIlDCBQDE]
Roxas and Romualdez have also taken potshots at each other.
Reports said Roxas requested Romualdez to give up the mayor's office. To these reports, Roxas replied he is furious and said, "They better be careful in spreading lies." (READ: City admin denies Roxas wants Tacloban mayor out.)
'We're doing our job'
In Wednesday's press briefing, Roxas said nothing is wrong about the current set-up. He said the bottom line is, the government is doing its job.
“Ang masasabi ko lang, magmula Biyernes, nang dumating si Yolanda, nasaan na ba tayo ngayon? Nabuksan ang airport, nabuksan ang seaport, operational na. Lahat ng main supply routes, bukas. Lahat ng mga bayan, accessible. More than 860,000 food packs na ang naipamahagi. One thousand six hundred cadavers na ang na-recover dito sa
(All I can say is, since Friday when Yolanda struck, where do we find ourselves now? The airport is open, the seaport is open, all operational. All supply routes are open. All towns are accessible. More than 860,000 food packs have been distributed. One thousand six hundred cadavers have been recovered here in
“Lahat itong trabahong ito, kabuuan nito ay national government,” he said. (All of these things, all of these are by the national government.)
He also said each official gets his own assignment.
The commander of Task Force Yolanda, for instance, is Brigadier General Jet Velarmino, head of the military's 8th infantry division that commands troops based in
He said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Dinky Soliman also works “for certain purposes.”
'Our boss, the people'
Backing Roxas, Soliman said the administration adopts a “convergent approach.”
“Ibig sabihin, lahat kami, one team. Kaya 'pag sinabing sino'ng in charge, lahat kami answerable to, first of all, the people. As the President always says, sila ang boss. And then, yung accountability lines namin, sa Presidente,” Soliman said.
(You know, this administration believes in a convergent approach. This means we all work as one team. So if you say who's in charge, everyone of us is answerable to, first of all, the people. As the President says, they're the boss. And our accountability lines go straight to the President.)
She also called the response to Haiyan a “whole of government approach.” Then, she broke down in tears.
“Lahat kami, buong pamahalaan, pambansa at lokal, kumikilos as one. But more than that, 'yun ang gusto kong ipaalam sa lahat – it's also whole of society. Lahat ng private sector, lahat ng volunteers, lahat ng volunteers dito sa Tacloban, nagre-repack sila. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. Nagkaisa ang bansa; 'yun ang ating mensahe,” Soliman said.
(Everyone of us, the whole of government, national and local, move as one. But more than this, what I want everyone to know – it's also whole of society. The entire private sector, all volunteers, all volunteers here in Tacloban are repacking. This is whole of society, responding to a crisis. The nation is working as one; that's our message.)
Still, it's a “whole of society” without a ground commander.
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/typhoon-yolanda/44165-haiyan-yolanda-ground-commander-roxas
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
U.S. Navy team lauds survivors
From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): U.S. Navy team lauds survivors
SMILING THROUGH THE CRISIS — A Philippine Army soldier takes time to play with children after delivering relief goods for survivors of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in Concepcion, Iloilo. Concepcion town is where ‘Yolanda’ made its fifth landfall in the country, devastating this place and other parts of northern Panay Island last November 8, 2013. (Tara Yap)
A United States Navy team landing on Eastern Visayas to help in government efforts’ response to the plight of super typhoon Yolanda victims, lauded locals involved in overall relief work.
Commanding officer Joe Ring, who led the 325-man team who came here on board the USS Mustin, said he was amazed at how city government workers and civilians doing volunteer work “managed to have a happy disposition” despite death and destruction.
He particularly marvelled at how “everybody is working here to serve others even if they, themselves are also typhoon victims.”
The US Navy team arrived in Ormoc City over the weekend on board the USS Mustin and hit the ground running, assisting in repair work on government buildings and school building of the Linao Elementary School here.
Ring said the team will also extend support in clearing up operations, air traffic service, and other kinds of assistance needed to ease the burden felt by the community, particularly the typhoon survivors.
The navy vessel was also loaded with relief aid goods from the US government. The items have to be airlifted from the ship to the warehouse at Ormoc City’s astrodome.
Meanwhile, more foreign help has also arrived in Panay, particularly for typhoon-devastated areas on the island’s northern parts.
Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) commander, Brigadier General Arnold Quiapo said the first batch of relief goods from Indonesia has arrived in Roxas City, Capiz last Sunday, November 17. A C-130 cargo plane from the Indonesian National Armed Forces landed at Iloilo Airport to deliver 11.8 tons of relief goods.
Quiapo said two more such aircraft from the Indonesians are set to arrive in Iloilo from Jakarta to drop off additional relief goods for badly hit areas of Panay Island, where more over two million people are estimated to have been displaced.
The most devastated areas are northern Iloilo and Capiz provinces.
Meanwhile, additional personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) also came last Saturday, Nov. 16.
The over 160 Canadian military personnel flew in to augment the initial 43-man team which had arrived in Iloilo last Nov. 14.
The Canadians’ DART specialize in medical care and purifying available water for potable use in disaster-struck areas all over the world.
Quiapo said the government is expecting other foreign troops to come and augment relief efforts in other typhoon-hit provinces including Aklan and Antique in Panay Island.
“We’re expecting the Americans, but we’re not sure when they will arrive,” he said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/u-s-navy-team-lauds-survivors/
SMILING THROUGH THE CRISIS — A Philippine Army soldier takes time to play with children after delivering relief goods for survivors of Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ in Concepcion, Iloilo. Concepcion town is where ‘Yolanda’ made its fifth landfall in the country, devastating this place and other parts of northern Panay Island last November 8, 2013. (Tara Yap)
A United States Navy team landing on Eastern Visayas to help in government efforts’ response to the plight of super typhoon Yolanda victims, lauded locals involved in overall relief work.
Commanding officer Joe Ring, who led the 325-man team who came here on board the USS Mustin, said he was amazed at how city government workers and civilians doing volunteer work “managed to have a happy disposition” despite death and destruction.
He particularly marvelled at how “everybody is working here to serve others even if they, themselves are also typhoon victims.”
The US Navy team arrived in Ormoc City over the weekend on board the USS Mustin and hit the ground running, assisting in repair work on government buildings and school building of the Linao Elementary School here.
Ring said the team will also extend support in clearing up operations, air traffic service, and other kinds of assistance needed to ease the burden felt by the community, particularly the typhoon survivors.
The navy vessel was also loaded with relief aid goods from the US government. The items have to be airlifted from the ship to the warehouse at Ormoc City’s astrodome.
Meanwhile, more foreign help has also arrived in Panay, particularly for typhoon-devastated areas on the island’s northern parts.
Philippine Army’s 301st Infantry Brigade (301 IB) commander, Brigadier General Arnold Quiapo said the first batch of relief goods from Indonesia has arrived in Roxas City, Capiz last Sunday, November 17. A C-130 cargo plane from the Indonesian National Armed Forces landed at Iloilo Airport to deliver 11.8 tons of relief goods.
Quiapo said two more such aircraft from the Indonesians are set to arrive in Iloilo from Jakarta to drop off additional relief goods for badly hit areas of Panay Island, where more over two million people are estimated to have been displaced.
The most devastated areas are northern Iloilo and Capiz provinces.
Meanwhile, additional personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces’ Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) also came last Saturday, Nov. 16.
The over 160 Canadian military personnel flew in to augment the initial 43-man team which had arrived in Iloilo last Nov. 14.
The Canadians’ DART specialize in medical care and purifying available water for potable use in disaster-struck areas all over the world.
Quiapo said the government is expecting other foreign troops to come and augment relief efforts in other typhoon-hit provinces including Aklan and Antique in Panay Island.
“We’re expecting the Americans, but we’re not sure when they will arrive,” he said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/u-s-navy-team-lauds-survivors/
Isabela encounter despite CPP-NPA ceasefire
From the Manila Bulletin (Nov 18): Isabela encounter despite CPP-NPA ceasefire
Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Isabela -- Two soldiers and four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were wounded in a fierce gunbattle in the outskirts of Sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan, San Mariano, this province last Friday.
A belated report reaching this camp said yesterday that the encounter happened after a unilateral ceasefire was announced by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) upon the government’s declaration of a national state of calamity due to the adverse effects of super-typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”).
Second Lieutenant Charmaine B. Leonero, officer-in- charge of the Public Affairs Office of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said troopers led by 2Lt. Jomar C. Tinio were conducting security patrols when NPA rebels fired at them around 2 p.m. Friday in Sitio Lumalog.
“Our troops conducted the security operation to respond the reports from concerned civilians about the extortion activities of the NPA remnants in their locality,” Leonero said.
During the fierce firefight, soldiers overwhelmed the band of NPA rebels and forced them to retreat.
Civilian witnesses reported at least four rebels, three of them women, wounded in the encounter and that they had boarded a banca by the river.
Leonero identified two soldiers slightly wounded as Corporal Propecio Salmio and Private First Class Jestoni Alisto. They are now recuperating at this camp’s Station Hospital.
“Hot pursuit operations are being conducted by our operating troops to track down the withdrawing NPA rebels to assure safety and protection of the villagers in the area,” she said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/isabela-encounter-despite-cpp-npa-ceasefire/
Camp Melchor F. Dela Cruz, Isabela -- Two soldiers and four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were wounded in a fierce gunbattle in the outskirts of Sitio Lumalog, Barangay Cadsalan, San Mariano, this province last Friday.
A belated report reaching this camp said yesterday that the encounter happened after a unilateral ceasefire was announced by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) upon the government’s declaration of a national state of calamity due to the adverse effects of super-typhoon “Yolanda” (international name: “Haiyan”).
Second Lieutenant Charmaine B. Leonero, officer-in- charge of the Public Affairs Office of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division, said troopers led by 2Lt. Jomar C. Tinio were conducting security patrols when NPA rebels fired at them around 2 p.m. Friday in Sitio Lumalog.
“Our troops conducted the security operation to respond the reports from concerned civilians about the extortion activities of the NPA remnants in their locality,” Leonero said.
During the fierce firefight, soldiers overwhelmed the band of NPA rebels and forced them to retreat.
Civilian witnesses reported at least four rebels, three of them women, wounded in the encounter and that they had boarded a banca by the river.
Leonero identified two soldiers slightly wounded as Corporal Propecio Salmio and Private First Class Jestoni Alisto. They are now recuperating at this camp’s Station Hospital.
“Hot pursuit operations are being conducted by our operating troops to track down the withdrawing NPA rebels to assure safety and protection of the villagers in the area,” she said.
http://www.mb.com.ph/isabela-encounter-despite-cpp-npa-ceasefire/
Village Head Shot in Calatrava
From the Negros Daily Bulletin (Nov 20): Village Head Shot in Calatrava
A barangay head in Calatrava town was shot allegedly by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) about 8:45AM, Monday.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) identified the victim as Fidel Añiñon, 63, newly-elected barangay captain was shot at Sitio Pesons, Brgy. Minautok, Calatrava by two unidentified armed men using a .45 caliber pistol.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds in the left leg, right side of his abdomen, back portion of his body, three bullet wounds on the right leg and a minor gunshot wound on the right face.
Recovered from the crime scene were; a written death threat allegedly from the NPA, one bullet of .45 caliber pistol and six cartridge shells from the same caliber.
The victim was rushed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) for medical treatment.
Further investigation on the case is underway.
http://ndb-online.com/112013/local-news/local-news-village-head-shot-calatrava
A barangay head in Calatrava town was shot allegedly by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) about 8:45AM, Monday.
Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) identified the victim as Fidel Añiñon, 63, newly-elected barangay captain was shot at Sitio Pesons, Brgy. Minautok, Calatrava by two unidentified armed men using a .45 caliber pistol.
The victim sustained gunshot wounds in the left leg, right side of his abdomen, back portion of his body, three bullet wounds on the right leg and a minor gunshot wound on the right face.
Recovered from the crime scene were; a written death threat allegedly from the NPA, one bullet of .45 caliber pistol and six cartridge shells from the same caliber.
The victim was rushed to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) for medical treatment.
Further investigation on the case is underway.
http://ndb-online.com/112013/local-news/local-news-village-head-shot-calatrava
PH warships also in Leyte
From Rappler (Nov 19): PH warships also in Leyte
LOW KEY: Simple rites for BRP Ramon Alcaraz on November 22. Malacañang file photo
It will be a simple commissioning rites for the country's latest warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) on Friday, November 22, so the refurbished Hamilton-class cutter the country acquired from the US can get down to business and possibly join the world's waships deployed to typhoon-ravaged Leyte.
"It's going to be very simple. We need to commission Alcaraz so we can use it for the operations of the Philippine Navy," said Navy spokesperson Lt Cmdr Gregory Fabic.
Alcaraz's twin ship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) is already in Leyte working along the warships of various militaries around the world, whose ships and aircrafts are augmenting the limited assets of the Armed Forces of thePhilippines
President Aquino led the well-attended arrival ceremony for Alcaraz in August. Alcaraz was acquired in the backdrop of growing tension betweenManila and Beijing over the
West Philippine Sea (South China Sea ).
ButLeyte
may be Alcaraz's first mission. Fabic said there are ongoing discussion to also
send Alcaraz to Tacloban to join Del Pilar.
Alcaraz and Del Pilar are 40 year old warships came from the US Coast Guard through the US Excess Defense Articles program. The government spent P450 million and P600 million to refurbish them, respectively.
Foreign troops for Yolanda victims
The Armed Forces of thePhilippines
Over 10 million Filipinos, mostly in the Visayas, were affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which struck last November 8. At least 3,982 people were killed and 1,602 remain missing, based on latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
"There are plenty of them. We have to orchestrate the efforts," said military spokesperson Major General Domingo Tutaan.
The MNCC is headed by Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Alan Luga.
TheUS and the UK
The Armed Forces also raised the maximum Code Red alert on Sunday, November 17. This requires all troops nationwide to stay in the camps and are prohibited from taking a leave.
"It was deemed necessary in order to enhance our efforts in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief)," said Tutaan.
CODE RED: Troops are required to stay in camps and prohibited from taking a leave
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44117-philippines-warships-leyte
LOW KEY: Simple rites for BRP Ramon Alcaraz on November 22. Malacañang file photo
It will be a simple commissioning rites for the country's latest warship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) on Friday, November 22, so the refurbished Hamilton-class cutter the country acquired from the US can get down to business and possibly join the world's waships deployed to typhoon-ravaged Leyte.
"It's going to be very simple. We need to commission Alcaraz so we can use it for the operations of the Philippine Navy," said Navy spokesperson Lt Cmdr Gregory Fabic.
Alcaraz's twin ship BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) is already in Leyte working along the warships of various militaries around the world, whose ships and aircrafts are augmenting the limited assets of the Armed Forces of the
President Aquino led the well-attended arrival ceremony for Alcaraz in August. Alcaraz was acquired in the backdrop of growing tension between
But
Alcaraz and Del Pilar are 40 year old warships came from the US Coast Guard through the US Excess Defense Articles program. The government spent P450 million and P600 million to refurbish them, respectively.
Foreign troops for Yolanda victims
SOLDIERS OF THE
WORLD UNITE: Militaries come to the aid of Typhoon Haiyan victims. Photo by
Carmela Fonbuena/Rappler
The Armed Forces of the
Over 10 million Filipinos, mostly in the Visayas, were affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), which struck last November 8. At least 3,982 people were killed and 1,602 remain missing, based on latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
"There are plenty of them. We have to orchestrate the efforts," said military spokesperson Major General Domingo Tutaan.
The MNCC is headed by Vice Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Alan Luga.
The
The Armed Forces also raised the maximum Code Red alert on Sunday, November 17. This requires all troops nationwide to stay in the camps and are prohibited from taking a leave.
"It was deemed necessary in order to enhance our efforts in HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief)," said Tutaan.
CODE RED: Troops are required to stay in camps and prohibited from taking a leave
http://www.rappler.com/nation/44117-philippines-warships-leyte
Haiyan exposes military’s vulnerabilities
From Rappler (Nov 18): Haiyan exposes military’s vulnerabilities
EVACUATION. C130s and other military equipment are valuable not just in times of war but also during calamities when people need to be evacuated and saved. Photo by Rappler
Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) highlighted not only the Philippines' extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, but also showed how the military’s limited resources hamper its ability to respond quickly and adequately to catastrophes.
As hundreds jostled to escape from the starving city of Tacloban, Leyte, the national government could deploy only 3 heavy tactical support C130 aircraft working non-stop, and a few helicopters and naval ships to move people and transport relief goods.
The military used to have 30 C130s, according to military spokesman Lt Col Ramon Zagala, but only 3 "are serviceable. The rest are no longer airworthy. They have been mothballed. It would be more expensive to repair these C130s.”
Criticism has been hurled at the national government and the military for the slow or delayed response in dispatching aid and relief goods even as donations – both local and foreign – quickly poured in as soon as the extent of the damage was realized.
The arrival of US aircraft carrier USS George Washington which helped in reaching remote areas worst-hit by Yolanda, only underlined the sorry state of the military.
“It is a real challenge, it is not an easy task. It is a tall order but we are doing our best,” Zagala said, given the military’s limited logistical assets.
Apart from the 3 C130s, 16 helicopters have been providing air support transporting relief goods and medicines in hard-to-reach areas, Zagala said.
“We have other helicopters but we cannot use all of them since these are also needed in areas where there are security threats,” he added.
However, at most, the Armed Forces has more than 79 operational helicopters only, based on an independent third party assessment of the military’s strength.
Best effort
A day after Yolanda unleashed its fury and left havoc and death in its aftermath, an AFP incident report said that two C130 aircraft were quickly sent to Tacloban City, bringing in 7,000 lbs of relief goods, medical teams, equipment, reservists and 50 drums of jet fuel for helicopters needed for aerial survey, rescue, and transport of relief aid to other areas.
On top of these, two Navy ships delivered aid to the islands of Carles and Estancia in Northern Iloilo, the report said.
A week after Yolanda’s fury, the AFP said it had transported 12,000 troops to the disaster-stricken areas while evacuating survivors from Tacloban to Manila and Cebu via different air and naval assets.
“Since Day 1, 4 out of 8 SOKOL choppers while 10 out of the 22 Huey helicopters are currently conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in Visayas. For our land assets, 81 trucks are continuing transport of relief goods in affected areas. 15 Navy vessels were also deployed to conduct HADR in all 3 incident areas.
“The AFP’s strategic deployment of its land, air, and naval assets to assist in ongoing HADR operations shows that we prioritize ongoing relief efforts while maintaining sufficient equipment and support to Internal Security Operations,” the status report said.
UP Professor Solita Monsod defended the military from criticism that it was slow in responding to the disaster. “Not enough? No presence? Please. Certainly not from want of trying. And given the limitations of equipment because the money for them was going elsewhere. The military is not the only one who is getting a raw deal here. Local government officials have been criticized, too. And the central government, including the President. I think they’ve done a hell of a job. They cannot be judged based on one city alone—Tacloban. Only consider: Do you really think anyone could have done better there, when 98 percent of the city had been destroyed, including the airport?” Monsod wrote in her column in the Inquirer.
In previous disasters like the December 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) – the strongest typhoon to hit Mindanao – the military had to make do with 8 or 9 Huey helicopters made available for its operations. The regional command had to pluck some of the helicopters from neighboring commands, and provided the early pictures of the extent of Pablo's destruction.
On the ground, while local government officials are supposed to be the first responders, in many cases and in reality, it is the military – given its training and manpower, and the massive logistical demands of operations – that fills in the gaps.
Diminishing assets
In the case of Yolanda, rescue and relief operations were hampered by the total shutdown of communication and infrastructure in worst-hit areas. The official death toll stood at less than 4,000 as of Monday, November 18, although many victims are still unaccounted for.
Amid the criticism, international aid relief and disaster officials lauded the government for its response to the calamity, given the massive scale and magnitude of the damage and deaths. “There will be delays in any country. It is not humanly possible for a quick response with the extent of the damage,” Jamal Rabesahala de Maritens, coordinator of the United Nations Development Program’s Global Cluster on Early Recovery, said.
The ability to respond also largely depends on the available resources, he also pointed out.
Exactly what is the capacity of the government, in particular, the military, in responding to internal threats that are not man-made?
Not much, based on its existing assets.
Based on current data from the US-based defense and security information consultancy firm IHS which conducts country profiling, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has only about 75 jets and aircraft for counter-insurgency, transport and pilot training.
Recent acquisitions include 15 units of T-41B Mescalero in 2009, and 18 units of SF 260F in 2010.
As for helicopters, the PAF has about 76 units, 44 of which are UH-1H Iroquois, which can be used for air assault, cargo, search and rescue, among others. The most recent acquisition of helicopters involved the controversial procurement of 8 combat utility Sokol choppers in 2012.
The Navy for its part, has only 9 aircraft and 4 utility helicopters. For sea assets, the Navy has 63 surface fleets, ranging from the recently acquired 2 decommissioned Hamilton-class cutters, 8 fast attack craft, 39 patrol crafts, and 42 landing crafts. The asset figures are not as dismal as they were before.
The IHS data showed that the PAF had a higher number of jets, aircraft and helicopters in the past, but many of them had been decommissioned, are no longer in use, or had figured in accidents.
For instance, there were originally a total of 180 UH-1H Iroquois choppers (first units were acquired in 1969); 32 light attack OV 10-A Bronco for counter-insurgency (24 acquired in 1991 and 8 in 2003); 19 light attack SF-260TP (acquired in 1993); 12 heavy transport C130 (3 in 1976 and 9 in 1991); and 15 205A utility choppers (acquired in 1984).
The Navy fared better, with most of its acquired assets basically still in working condition, except for 9 Sea Hawk patrol craft acquired in 1975 that are no longer in use. Acquisition of assets however were far and between, with the P189-milion landing craft utility BRP Tagbanua as its latest addition in 2011. (See table below)
*data from IHS Janes
P75 billion for aging military
Under the long delayed AFP modernization program, a total of P75 billion will be allotted to the military during a five-year period until 2017. At least 24 projects are in the pipeline, 10 under the PAF, 6 with the Navy, 5 with the Army, and 3 with the general headquarters.
Recently, the Department of National Defense said it is fast-tracking the delivery of 4 FA-50 fighter jets from Korea, out of the 12 targeted units. The project costs P18.9 billion.
For the Navy, two more frigates, with the total amount of P18 billion, will be procured.
In the wake of Yolanda’s wrath, the DND also said it has scheduled a pre-bid conference for the procurement of 3 Light Lift Fixed Wing aircraft – sea planes that can be used for maritime search and rescue operations.
Zagala said there are now plans to purchase “medium-lift” aircraft and 8 utility helicopters, as well as radar system and communication equipment to beef up the military’s disaster response capability.
At most, the P75 billion modernization budget is “modest enough for the military to level up.”
By comparison, neighboring Indonesia, which is also an archipelagic country, has allotted US$16.2 billion (roughly P680.4 billion) for its own military modernization project Its modernization program includes the construction of 3 new submarines, to complement its two existing ones.
According to Asian Military Review, a defense magazine, Indonesia "placed strong emphasis" on expanding and improving its naval capability, given its huge maritime territory of 6 million square kilometers. Currently, the country has 115 ships of various types and has 6 frigates. It also planned to acquire a destroyer with anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air capabilities.
As for its Air Force, Indonesia is targeting the acquisition of 180 combat aircraft by 2024, with 6 C130s and 9 Airbus C295s included in its shopping list. It has also engaged countries like Poland and the United States in procurement programs to upgrade its air power.
Procurement
Like the Philipines, Indonesia is plagued by financial constraints and irregularities in its procurement system that caused delays in its modernization program. But Indonesian authorities are looking for out-of-the-box solutions to fast-track its acquisitions.
As for the Philippines, irregularities remain the norm, although the winds of change are starting to be felt. The latest procurement problem involved the purchase of Sokol helicopters from Poland, which was initiated during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. President Benigno Aquino III has criticized the procurement of these choppers for deficiencies in specifications.
Also compounding the problem is the lack of harmony among the major units in the military when it comes to procurement. The Air Force, Navy, and the Army have ended up engaging in procurement and purchases on their own.
From the start, the military lacked a professional corps of full-time and specialist project managers that could harmonize procurement to enhance “inter-operability” among the major military units.
But a military supplier said that the DND has sought to address this already by creating a Defense Acquisition Team that is more responsive to the needs of the military in addressing external and internal threats.
The next challenge perhaps is factoring into the equation the military’s disaster response system.
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/43997-haiyan-exposes-military-vulnerabilities
EVACUATION. C130s and other military equipment are valuable not just in times of war but also during calamities when people need to be evacuated and saved. Photo by Rappler
Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) highlighted not only the Philippines' extreme vulnerability to natural disasters, but also showed how the military’s limited resources hamper its ability to respond quickly and adequately to catastrophes.
As hundreds jostled to escape from the starving city of Tacloban, Leyte, the national government could deploy only 3 heavy tactical support C130 aircraft working non-stop, and a few helicopters and naval ships to move people and transport relief goods.
The military used to have 30 C130s, according to military spokesman Lt Col Ramon Zagala, but only 3 "are serviceable. The rest are no longer airworthy. They have been mothballed. It would be more expensive to repair these C130s.”
Criticism has been hurled at the national government and the military for the slow or delayed response in dispatching aid and relief goods even as donations – both local and foreign – quickly poured in as soon as the extent of the damage was realized.
The arrival of US aircraft carrier USS George Washington which helped in reaching remote areas worst-hit by Yolanda, only underlined the sorry state of the military.
“It is a real challenge, it is not an easy task. It is a tall order but we are doing our best,” Zagala said, given the military’s limited logistical assets.
Apart from the 3 C130s, 16 helicopters have been providing air support transporting relief goods and medicines in hard-to-reach areas, Zagala said.
“We have other helicopters but we cannot use all of them since these are also needed in areas where there are security threats,” he added.
However, at most, the Armed Forces has more than 79 operational helicopters only, based on an independent third party assessment of the military’s strength.
Best effort
A day after Yolanda unleashed its fury and left havoc and death in its aftermath, an AFP incident report said that two C130 aircraft were quickly sent to Tacloban City, bringing in 7,000 lbs of relief goods, medical teams, equipment, reservists and 50 drums of jet fuel for helicopters needed for aerial survey, rescue, and transport of relief aid to other areas.
On top of these, two Navy ships delivered aid to the islands of Carles and Estancia in Northern Iloilo, the report said.
A week after Yolanda’s fury, the AFP said it had transported 12,000 troops to the disaster-stricken areas while evacuating survivors from Tacloban to Manila and Cebu via different air and naval assets.
“Since Day 1, 4 out of 8 SOKOL choppers while 10 out of the 22 Huey helicopters are currently conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR) operations in Visayas. For our land assets, 81 trucks are continuing transport of relief goods in affected areas. 15 Navy vessels were also deployed to conduct HADR in all 3 incident areas.
“The AFP’s strategic deployment of its land, air, and naval assets to assist in ongoing HADR operations shows that we prioritize ongoing relief efforts while maintaining sufficient equipment and support to Internal Security Operations,” the status report said.
UP Professor Solita Monsod defended the military from criticism that it was slow in responding to the disaster. “Not enough? No presence? Please. Certainly not from want of trying. And given the limitations of equipment because the money for them was going elsewhere. The military is not the only one who is getting a raw deal here. Local government officials have been criticized, too. And the central government, including the President. I think they’ve done a hell of a job. They cannot be judged based on one city alone—Tacloban. Only consider: Do you really think anyone could have done better there, when 98 percent of the city had been destroyed, including the airport?” Monsod wrote in her column in the Inquirer.
In previous disasters like the December 2012 Typhoon Pablo (Bopha) – the strongest typhoon to hit Mindanao – the military had to make do with 8 or 9 Huey helicopters made available for its operations. The regional command had to pluck some of the helicopters from neighboring commands, and provided the early pictures of the extent of Pablo's destruction.
On the ground, while local government officials are supposed to be the first responders, in many cases and in reality, it is the military – given its training and manpower, and the massive logistical demands of operations – that fills in the gaps.
Diminishing assets
In the case of Yolanda, rescue and relief operations were hampered by the total shutdown of communication and infrastructure in worst-hit areas. The official death toll stood at less than 4,000 as of Monday, November 18, although many victims are still unaccounted for.
Amid the criticism, international aid relief and disaster officials lauded the government for its response to the calamity, given the massive scale and magnitude of the damage and deaths. “There will be delays in any country. It is not humanly possible for a quick response with the extent of the damage,” Jamal Rabesahala de Maritens, coordinator of the United Nations Development Program’s Global Cluster on Early Recovery, said.
The ability to respond also largely depends on the available resources, he also pointed out.
Exactly what is the capacity of the government, in particular, the military, in responding to internal threats that are not man-made?
Not much, based on its existing assets.
Based on current data from the US-based defense and security information consultancy firm IHS which conducts country profiling, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) has only about 75 jets and aircraft for counter-insurgency, transport and pilot training.
Recent acquisitions include 15 units of T-41B Mescalero in 2009, and 18 units of SF 260F in 2010.
As for helicopters, the PAF has about 76 units, 44 of which are UH-1H Iroquois, which can be used for air assault, cargo, search and rescue, among others. The most recent acquisition of helicopters involved the controversial procurement of 8 combat utility Sokol choppers in 2012.
The Navy for its part, has only 9 aircraft and 4 utility helicopters. For sea assets, the Navy has 63 surface fleets, ranging from the recently acquired 2 decommissioned Hamilton-class cutters, 8 fast attack craft, 39 patrol crafts, and 42 landing crafts. The asset figures are not as dismal as they were before.
The IHS data showed that the PAF had a higher number of jets, aircraft and helicopters in the past, but many of them had been decommissioned, are no longer in use, or had figured in accidents.
For instance, there were originally a total of 180 UH-1H Iroquois choppers (first units were acquired in 1969); 32 light attack OV 10-A Bronco for counter-insurgency (24 acquired in 1991 and 8 in 2003); 19 light attack SF-260TP (acquired in 1993); 12 heavy transport C130 (3 in 1976 and 9 in 1991); and 15 205A utility choppers (acquired in 1984).
The Navy fared better, with most of its acquired assets basically still in working condition, except for 9 Sea Hawk patrol craft acquired in 1975 that are no longer in use. Acquisition of assets however were far and between, with the P189-milion landing craft utility BRP Tagbanua as its latest addition in 2011. (See table below)
*data from IHS Janes
P75 billion for aging military
Under the long delayed AFP modernization program, a total of P75 billion will be allotted to the military during a five-year period until 2017. At least 24 projects are in the pipeline, 10 under the PAF, 6 with the Navy, 5 with the Army, and 3 with the general headquarters.
Recently, the Department of National Defense said it is fast-tracking the delivery of 4 FA-50 fighter jets from Korea, out of the 12 targeted units. The project costs P18.9 billion.
For the Navy, two more frigates, with the total amount of P18 billion, will be procured.
In the wake of Yolanda’s wrath, the DND also said it has scheduled a pre-bid conference for the procurement of 3 Light Lift Fixed Wing aircraft – sea planes that can be used for maritime search and rescue operations.
Zagala said there are now plans to purchase “medium-lift” aircraft and 8 utility helicopters, as well as radar system and communication equipment to beef up the military’s disaster response capability.
At most, the P75 billion modernization budget is “modest enough for the military to level up.”
By comparison, neighboring Indonesia, which is also an archipelagic country, has allotted US$16.2 billion (roughly P680.4 billion) for its own military modernization project Its modernization program includes the construction of 3 new submarines, to complement its two existing ones.
According to Asian Military Review, a defense magazine, Indonesia "placed strong emphasis" on expanding and improving its naval capability, given its huge maritime territory of 6 million square kilometers. Currently, the country has 115 ships of various types and has 6 frigates. It also planned to acquire a destroyer with anti-submarine, anti-surface, and anti-air capabilities.
As for its Air Force, Indonesia is targeting the acquisition of 180 combat aircraft by 2024, with 6 C130s and 9 Airbus C295s included in its shopping list. It has also engaged countries like Poland and the United States in procurement programs to upgrade its air power.
Procurement
Like the Philipines, Indonesia is plagued by financial constraints and irregularities in its procurement system that caused delays in its modernization program. But Indonesian authorities are looking for out-of-the-box solutions to fast-track its acquisitions.
As for the Philippines, irregularities remain the norm, although the winds of change are starting to be felt. The latest procurement problem involved the purchase of Sokol helicopters from Poland, which was initiated during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. President Benigno Aquino III has criticized the procurement of these choppers for deficiencies in specifications.
Also compounding the problem is the lack of harmony among the major units in the military when it comes to procurement. The Air Force, Navy, and the Army have ended up engaging in procurement and purchases on their own.
From the start, the military lacked a professional corps of full-time and specialist project managers that could harmonize procurement to enhance “inter-operability” among the major military units.
But a military supplier said that the DND has sought to address this already by creating a Defense Acquisition Team that is more responsive to the needs of the military in addressing external and internal threats.
The next challenge perhaps is factoring into the equation the military’s disaster response system.
http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/43997-haiyan-exposes-military-vulnerabilities
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