Virus torpedoes submarine acquisition
Funding problem has shifted priorities, but the outgoing Navy chief maintained that having submarines will bolster the country’s defenses
The Covid-19 pandemic has delayed some of the Navy’s big-ticket acquisitions, including its first submarines, flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said Monday.
“I was expecting that the signing of the contract would have been done this second semester of 2021 or at the latest, first semester of 2022,” said Bacordo, referring to the submarine project.
“But so much of our funds have been devoted to the government’s Covid-19 response,” he added during a briefing.
Bacordo, who is set to step down as Navy chief Tuesday, said P70 billion was budgeted for two submarines, along with the integrated logistics support and the ports where the subs will be housed.
France, South Korea, Turkey, and India are interested in providing the submarines, while Singapore wants to “download” its older submarines to the Philippines, he said.
Aside from the submarines, the pandemic also delayed the project to acquire missile-armed fast-attack interdiction crafts.
The first of those vessels was expected to arrive by the fourth quarter of 2020, but will now be delivered by the first quarter of 2022, Bacordo said.
There are also plans to acquire six offshore patrol vessels and have the first one delivered by this year, but no contract signing has been made to date.
We have already prepared the doctrines, what is the organization to suit these fast-attack interdiction crafts. We are now constructing missile storage facilities.
“Plans to acquire two corvettes have the same story. We projected to have the first delivered by 2022, but right now there is no contract signing,” Bacordo said.
He pointed out that if not for the pandemic, the government would have procured the submarines, the offshore patrol vessels, the corvettes, and the shore-based anti-ship and air defense missile systems.
Nonetheless, the Navy has already come up with a synchronization matrix aimed at preparing the force for the arrival of the missile-armed fast-attack interdiction crafts.
“We have already prepared the doctrines, what is the organization to suit these fast-attack interdiction crafts. We are now constructing missile storage facilities, he said.
The funding problem means that priorities will also shift, but Bacordo maintained that having submarines will bolster the country’s defenses.
“Believe me, if we have a submarine, it is a credible deterrence against all countries already going into our exclusive economic zone, into our extended continental shelf, our contiguous zones, because they do not know where that submarine is,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Navy is looking forward to moving inside the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction shipyard in Subic, Zambales, this year.
Bacordo said he has already signed a term sheet for occupying part of the property.
“It (term sheet) is for occupation by the Navy of the north yard of the old Hanjin facilities. Sale, lease, or whatever scheme will be discussed in detail in the terms of reference,” Bacordo said in a message.
The Navy plans to use almost 100 hectares of the north yard to house several units, and to dock newer ships.
“All of our Del Pilar-class patrol vessels, Tarlac-class landing docks, our Condrado Yap-class corvette, and our Jose Rizal-class frigates have not docked in any navy facility since arriving in the country, so with this property, it may be the first time for them to do so,” Bacordo said.
On 8 January 2019, HHIC Philippines filed for corporate rehabilitation after incurring a total of $1.3 billion in outstanding loans, including some $400 million from Philippine banks and $900 million from South Korean lenders.