Gazmin says public procurement of C295 aircraft transparent and adhered to law

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin assured the public Monday that the acquisition of the country's three new C295M medium lift fixed wing aircraft was transparent and strictly adhered to rules amid controversy on the procurement of 21 UH-1 combat helicopters.

 

In his speech during the turnover and blessing of the first of the three C295 aircraft at the Villamor Air Base, Gazmin said the Department of National Defense-Special Bids and Awards Committee strictly adhered to Republic Act 9184 or the Government Procurement Reform Act and other laws and policies.

 

"Consistent with the AFP Modernization Program, we decided to procure three units of the Casa C295M medium lift fixed-wing aircraft through public competitive bidding, and we expect the delivery of the second aircraft in February 2016 and the third aircraft in June 2016," he said.

 

The first C295 aircraft, which can carry 71 passengers, 50 paratroopers, or up to 20,000 lbs. of cargo, arrived in the country on March 22. 

Bagong biling C-295 transport plane para sa Air Force, nakatakdang i-turnover ngayong araw. | via Mao dela Cruz pic.twitter.com/FcSCQZKngb

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 30, 2015
 

 

“The public can be assured that there was transparency in the procurement process that was conducted and that the terms and conditions in the concluded contract agreement are advantageous to the government of the Philippines,” Gazmin added.

 

He said the turnover of the aircraft “lends reality to the urgency of possessing this type of aircraft in the Philippine Air Force inventory.”

 

Gazmin said the acquisition of such aircraft is very important to the country which is an archipelago, adding that the most expeditious manner of transporting military troops, light vehicles, and equipment from one island to another is through air transport.

 

“Air transport has always been an essential part of our air operations in the military. Its importance plays a key role in the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force, especially in the movement by air of troops, and their equipment and supplies,” he said.

 

He further said the PAF is fortunate to have in its inventory the first of C295M aircraft which is expected to boost its transport and mobility capability in the movement through air of its personnel.

AFP modernization: Long and painstaking journey

 

The defense chief admitted that the goal of modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines would be a long and painstaking journey as the minimum requirements on materials and equipment for operational readiness, based on their cost, are constrained by the government's financial capability.

 

Amid the financial limitation, he said the AFP has to persevere and be contented with what it can afford based on the priorities of its urgent operational needs and its financial affordability.

 

“Necessarily, we have to take small but definite and useful steps towards practical modernity. This is the direction that we are heading to as attested by this ceremony today,” he said.

Bidding

 

The procurement of UH-1 came under fire when the supposed tailor-fitted bidding for a favored company was exposed.

 

The contract was reportedly awarded to Joint Venture of Rice Aircraft Services, Inc. and Eagle Copters, Ltd. on December 28, 2013 for a bid price of P1.25 billion.

 

Reports have it that the UH-1D units that were delivered by the supplier to the PAF were non-compliant with the project contract’s Terms of Reference. The units also reportedly have limited use due to some defects, defeating the purpose of their acquisition and prima facie wastage of taxpayers' money.

 

Amid the delay in the completion of the turnover of the helicopters and the various violations made by the supplier, the Department of National Defense allegedly made no termination of the contract and still allowed the supplier to deliver.

 

The DND has already created a committee led by Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs and Strategic Concerns Pio Lorenzo Batino to investigate the alleged irregularity.
 

Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito also sought congressional probe on the said deal. —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News