Defense
Secretary Delfin Lorenzana cannot over emphasized the importance of the P2.5
billion worth of spare parts and maintenance equipment for the Philippine Air
Force’ UH-1 Huey helicopters, donated by the Japanese government.
Being
the first Southeast Asian country that was given excess military material by
Japan, the Philippines is still expecting other military equipment’s from its
ally.
The
Philippines is also looking to acquire at radar systems and excess airplanes
from the Japanese government.
“Wala pa [None yet, it’s still] on the
pipeline pero marami pa tayong gustong kunin sa kanila [but there are many that
we want to get from them],”Sec. Lorenzana said.
 |
| Turn over ceremony of the P2.5 Billion worh of Huey spare parts and maintenance equipments from Japan (photo credit to owner) |
“(Like) radar systems. airplanes na mga
excess nila [which are their excess]. Kung meron silang excess airplanes pero
pinaguusapan pa namin ng defense minister [If they have excess airplanes, but
we are still discussing that with the defense minister],” he added.
The Defense Secreatry relates, if
everything pushes through, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are looking to
acquire four to five advance radar systems from Japan which is considered as
among the best in the world.
Manufactured
in Japan
Lorenzana
explains that the spare parts and maintenance equipment donated to the
Philippine Air Force were manufactured by the Japanese themselves.
”This
is [these are] donated by the Japanese government because they are manufacturing
these spare parts under license from the U.S.,” Lorenzana said.
Meron
silang [They have] excess so they thought it wise to give it to us dahil marami
tayong nakatengga dyan na hindi makalipad dahil walang [because we have many
which are grounded and cannot fly as there are no] spare parts. And we’re very
much appreciative that they are giving this worth P2.5 billion of spares.”
Japan
changed its laws which paved the way for them to export defense article to
other countries, and the Philippines was the first beneficiary of the changed
in their constitution.
Why
the Philippines?
Lorenzana
was asked why the Japanese government chose the Philippines to be the first
beneficiary of their excess defense article? The Defense Secretary jokingly
said “Siguro favorite tayo nila [Maybe we are their favorite].
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Report from Manila Bulletin
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