(Manila Times) WASHINGTON D.C.: The United States government has offered to upgrade at least 12 of the 36 Sikorsky helicopters that the Philippines bought so that these can be used for disaster response, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
The money used to acquire heavy-lift Sikorsky choppers will come from the $100 million military grant from the US government, he said on Tuesday.
“First of all, we wanted to buy heavy lift helicopters for disaster management,” Romualdez told a group of visiting Filipino journalists.
“The $100 million can give us an upgrade. That is the offer. If we decide huwag na lang (not to go for the upgrade] and we will get something else, puwede rin (it is also allowed),” he said.
The ambassador clarified that the US does not want to dictate on how the Philippines will use the military grant. It merely suggested upgrading several of the Sikorsky choppers. “The DND (Department of National Defense) is considering it,” he said… Read More
