Aquino authorizes P44-B multiyear defense contract

President Benigno Aquino III has signed a proposal for the Department of National Defense to enter into a P44-billion multi-year contract for seven more military purchases starting this year, a defense official announced Saturday.

Fernando Manalo, the Department of National Defense's (DND) undersecretary for modernization, said Aquino signed the proposal on Friday, November 27.

"In-approve na ni President iyong authority ni SND (Secretary of National Defense) to enter into a multi-year contract for seven projects," Manalo told reporters at the welcoming ceremony of two new South Korean-made FA-50 fighters jets at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.

He said that the projects include the acquisitions of two frigates, anti-submarine helicopters and an amphivious assault vehicle for the Philippine Navy; long range patrol aircraft, close air support aircraft, munitions for FA-50s and an air surveillance radar for the Philippine Air Force.

Manalo said the payment for the seven projects will start from 2015 to 2017 or 2018.

The two new FA-50s is part of the P18.9 million contract entered into by the government with the Korea Aerospace Industries for a total of 12 fighter jets.

All 12 fighter jets are expected to be completely delivered by 2017.

The DND has said that it will house the new fighter jets at Subic, a former US naval facility, near the disputed territories in the South China Sea.

The two fighter jets would be based at the former Cubi Naval Station in Subic Bay while two naval frigates will be stationed at the bay's Alava Port. —ALG, GMA News