DND seeks 138 military modernization projects by 2012—defense chief

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. AFP file photo

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of National Defense is hoping to sign up a total of 138 modernization projects for the Armed Forces of the Philippines by July 2012, Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday.

Gazmin told reporters after the launch of Defense Acquisitions System Assessment at Camp Aguinaldo that these projects, worth about P70 billion, would include fighter jets and multi-role vessels.

He added that they would seek to secure a multi-year obligation authority for the projects to be able to enter multi-year contracts that would include the delivery of purchased equipment up to 2020.

These projects will address different concerns like internal security operations and territorial defense.

Starting Saturday, assessment teams will visit different countries to evaluate the equipment that the military needs to acquire.

“Starting tomorrow, marami nang lalabas na mga assessment teams papunta sa mga iba-ibang countries para sa ganun magkaroon sila ng evaluation ng mga equipment na kailangan natin. Kunyari, sabihin natin barko, barko ng europe, barko ng amerikano, barko ng asia, titingnan natin yun ieevaluate natin kung ano yung pinakamagaling at kung ano yung pinaka-affordable sa atin, yun ang uunahin natin, not necessarily sa US,” Gazmin said.

He said the teams would visit the countries which were offering military equipment on sale –Italy, Spain, United States, Korea, France and United Kingdom.