Philippines to procure two frigates ammo at a price of P2.5 billion

Philippine Defense Department is about to spend Php2.5 billion in the purchase of ammunition of the 2 frigates for the Philippine Nay.

Secretary Patrick Velez the Defense Assistant said that officials decided to separate the acquisition of ammunition from its frigate acquisition, citing the conduct of international arms restrictions.

“There will be 2(projects). The possession of armaments will be a separate project,” Velez said on an interview.

“You cannot merge the offensive section and the actual construction of the ship. The acquisition of the ammunition require about Php2.5 billion,” he added.

The projects could not be rewarded to the shipyards, since they do not manufacture those special missiles. Before it was separated into 2, the frigate project had an approved budget of Php18 billion. About Php2.5 billion of the expenditure was allotted for the armaments of the ship.

Now that the acquisition project has been separated in two lots, the budget for the 2 ships stands at Php15.5 billion.

The frigate project is among the biggest items to be acquired in the Modernization Program for Armed Force. The frigates can be used to strengthen and boost Philippines’ security presence in its territories, and respond to calamities.