Duterte okays AFP’s submarine program
President Duterte has given the go signal for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to have its own submarine program, the Department of National Defense (DND) said Monday.
DND spokesman Director Arsenio Andolong said in an interview that the submarine acquisition program is part of the wishlist of the AFP, and now the Chief Executive has given his approval for the AFP to push through with it.
“Well, the proposed submarine program at least was given a go by the president. The Philippine Navy has begun studying its doctrines and planning its procurement,” Andolong said.
“This has never been done before and I think that is significant because it shows the political will of our President. He wants to push our Armed Forces to the forefront,as equal with our neighbors,” he added.
Some of our neighbors in the ASEAN region who have their own submarines are Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia, Andolong said.
Andolong said that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Philippine Navy will be able to finish the contract within President Duterte’s term. But if the submarine program is not realized during Duterte’s term, the important thing is that it has set a direction for the future, he said.
“The President likes the idea of us procuring our own submarines. Sakanya, kapag inaprubahan niya kami nahahanap ng paraan kung paano ito gagawin (If he approves it, we will be the ones who will find a way to do it),” Andolong said.
“Ngayonhindi sure, malamang hindi pa sya ma (perfect) saterminoni President Duterte. But at least the Navy has begun studies of it kasi inaprubahan niya ang wish list. Peropag-uusapan pa kung papaano popondohan, saan kukuha, at anong klase (It’s not sure, and likely it won’t be perfected during the President’s term. But we shall discuss how to finance it, where to procure it, and what type of submarine),” he said.
Andolong said the Philippine Navy could acquire an attack submarine, fast attack submarine, ballistic missile submarine or Boomers, and guided missile submarine. He said there is also submarine which has surveillance equipment on it.
(Manila Bulletin)