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Canada will help the Philippines modernize its defense structure in a deal that includes guarantees for Manila's purchase of Canadian military and security hardware and expertise.
Published: Nov. 12, 2012 at 4:06 PM
OTTAWA, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Canada will help the Philippines modernize its obsolete defense structure as part of a deal that includes Ottawa guarantees for Manila's purchases of Canadian military and security hardware and expertise.
The total value of the military procurement program wasn't mentioned but it will be implemented within Canada's $12.6 billion defense industry.
The Philippines' threadbare security set-up has come under spotlight as the country grapples with increasingly acrimonious exchanges with China over Beijing's territorial claim on Scarborough Shoal, a group of islands in the South China Sea which Manila says are well within the Philippine's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. The islets are also claimed by Taiwan.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Philippines President Benigno Aquino in Manila and offered preferential terms for a defense deal that will likely benefit both sides. Canada's defense industry is hoping for more international business to help its recovery.
The Philippines' cash-strapped military hopes to get additional hardware, including naval craft, from the United States in the coming months.
The Philippine defense department and state-run Canadian Commercial Corp., a go-between organization serving the Canadian industry and foreign partners, signed the agreement as Harper met Aquino at Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila.
"This memorandum of understanding will enable the Philippines to acquire the equipment and expertise it needs to fulfill the country's defense and security agenda," Harper said.
The as yet unspecified Filipino purchases of equipment and expertise from Canada's defense industry will be guaranteed by the Ottawa government.
Aquino said the deal "will help us in our efforts to build our defense and security capabilities" but declined to give details of the program.
Both Canada and the Philippines appear wary of making comments that could inflame the dispute over the islands.
"I cannot go into specifics lest they be observed by less friendly individuals," Aquino said.
China is not the only security issue facing the Philippines which also faces a long-running conflict with Muslim militants fighting for autonomy or self-rule.
Last month Aquino resumed reconciliation talks with Muslim representatives and reached a framework accord overseen by neighboring Malaysia and the Organization of Islamic Conference.
But senior government aides don't rule out continuing conflict and want the military to be better prepared to face up to a more violent Muslim revolt.
Five patrol boats bought from France in a $116 million deal are set to join refurbished equipment likely to be given by the United States. The U.S. military aid will include a Hamilton class cutter previously used by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Canada to help Philippines modernizee defense structure - UPI.com
Phl, Canada ink defense MOU
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino reiterated yesterday the country’s need to improve its defense capability as he welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Malacañang, where the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense procurement between the Philippines and Canada.
Harper arrived in Manila Friday night for a two-day official visit. Harper said the MOU between the Canadian Commercial Corp. and the Department of National Defense would create “new opportunities for Canadian businesses in our defense and security sector.”
“This memorandum of understanding will enable the Philippines to acquire the equipment and expertise it needs to fulfill the country’s defense and security agenda,” Harper said.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Canadian Minister for International Trade Ed Fast signed the MOU. The deal was inked amid a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over islands and waters in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. The government also has to deal with communist insurgency and Islamic radicals.
In a short press briefing after the signing of the agreement, Aquino said the “fundamental issue” was that “we have a lot of outmoded equipment” and very few vessels and aircraft.
“One, in terms of our maritime issues, we have 36,000 kilometers of coastline which excludes the area that has to be observed and surveilled, which is a 200-mile economic zone. Now, we have 132 ships, most of them are World War II era and older. So even dividing 36,000 over 132 becomes quite an impossibility,” Aquino said.
He also said the Philippines does not have a single fighter in its inventory. “We have, in terms of transport, we now have – I’m pleased to note – a 100 percent increase in our air transport capability because previously, we have one C-130 operational; we now have two. It’s still a long way to go,” Aquino said.
“Now, Canada is at the forefront of various equipment that redounds to increasing capability – or to increase the capacities and capabilities of our own forces to meet the needs of defense for our country. I cannot go into specifics lest they be observed by less friendly individuals,” he said.
“So we are now in a position because of this understanding to access the expertise, the skills and get more value for our money for the needs – there are legitimate needs – to be able to defend our territory and our sovereignty,” Aquino said.
The MOU covers government-to-government transactions in defense and military-related procurements. It seeks to ensure smooth and expeditious procurement transactions, with the Canadian government guaranteeing the quality of equipment as well as compliance with procurement contracts by Canadian companies.
The Canadian Commercial Corp. serves as a go-between between Canadian suppliers and foreign governments to transact defense and security contracts.
Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard announced it would buy five patrol boats from France for about 90 million euros or $116 million.
There are also ongoing negotiations to purchase 10 PCG vessels from Japan through a loan.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/11/11/865305/phl-canada-ink-defense-mou
Philippine President Benigno Aquino (standing, right) with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (standing, left) witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Department of National Defense and the Canadian Commercial Corporation at the presidential palace in Manila
Published: Nov. 12, 2012 at 4:06 PM
OTTAWA, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Canada will help the Philippines modernize its obsolete defense structure as part of a deal that includes Ottawa guarantees for Manila's purchases of Canadian military and security hardware and expertise.
The total value of the military procurement program wasn't mentioned but it will be implemented within Canada's $12.6 billion defense industry.
The Philippines' threadbare security set-up has come under spotlight as the country grapples with increasingly acrimonious exchanges with China over Beijing's territorial claim on Scarborough Shoal, a group of islands in the South China Sea which Manila says are well within the Philippine's 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. The islets are also claimed by Taiwan.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Philippines President Benigno Aquino in Manila and offered preferential terms for a defense deal that will likely benefit both sides. Canada's defense industry is hoping for more international business to help its recovery.
The Philippines' cash-strapped military hopes to get additional hardware, including naval craft, from the United States in the coming months.
The Philippine defense department and state-run Canadian Commercial Corp., a go-between organization serving the Canadian industry and foreign partners, signed the agreement as Harper met Aquino at Malacanang Presidential Palace in Manila.
"This memorandum of understanding will enable the Philippines to acquire the equipment and expertise it needs to fulfill the country's defense and security agenda," Harper said.
The as yet unspecified Filipino purchases of equipment and expertise from Canada's defense industry will be guaranteed by the Ottawa government.
Aquino said the deal "will help us in our efforts to build our defense and security capabilities" but declined to give details of the program.
Both Canada and the Philippines appear wary of making comments that could inflame the dispute over the islands.
"I cannot go into specifics lest they be observed by less friendly individuals," Aquino said.
China is not the only security issue facing the Philippines which also faces a long-running conflict with Muslim militants fighting for autonomy or self-rule.
Last month Aquino resumed reconciliation talks with Muslim representatives and reached a framework accord overseen by neighboring Malaysia and the Organization of Islamic Conference.
But senior government aides don't rule out continuing conflict and want the military to be better prepared to face up to a more violent Muslim revolt.
Five patrol boats bought from France in a $116 million deal are set to join refurbished equipment likely to be given by the United States. The U.S. military aid will include a Hamilton class cutter previously used by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Canada to help Philippines modernizee defense structure - UPI.com
Phl, Canada ink defense MOU
MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino reiterated yesterday the country’s need to improve its defense capability as he welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Malacañang, where the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense procurement between the Philippines and Canada.
Harper arrived in Manila Friday night for a two-day official visit. Harper said the MOU between the Canadian Commercial Corp. and the Department of National Defense would create “new opportunities for Canadian businesses in our defense and security sector.”
“This memorandum of understanding will enable the Philippines to acquire the equipment and expertise it needs to fulfill the country’s defense and security agenda,” Harper said.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Canadian Minister for International Trade Ed Fast signed the MOU. The deal was inked amid a territorial dispute between the Philippines and China over islands and waters in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea. The government also has to deal with communist insurgency and Islamic radicals.
In a short press briefing after the signing of the agreement, Aquino said the “fundamental issue” was that “we have a lot of outmoded equipment” and very few vessels and aircraft.
“One, in terms of our maritime issues, we have 36,000 kilometers of coastline which excludes the area that has to be observed and surveilled, which is a 200-mile economic zone. Now, we have 132 ships, most of them are World War II era and older. So even dividing 36,000 over 132 becomes quite an impossibility,” Aquino said.
He also said the Philippines does not have a single fighter in its inventory. “We have, in terms of transport, we now have – I’m pleased to note – a 100 percent increase in our air transport capability because previously, we have one C-130 operational; we now have two. It’s still a long way to go,” Aquino said.
“Now, Canada is at the forefront of various equipment that redounds to increasing capability – or to increase the capacities and capabilities of our own forces to meet the needs of defense for our country. I cannot go into specifics lest they be observed by less friendly individuals,” he said.
“So we are now in a position because of this understanding to access the expertise, the skills and get more value for our money for the needs – there are legitimate needs – to be able to defend our territory and our sovereignty,” Aquino said.
The MOU covers government-to-government transactions in defense and military-related procurements. It seeks to ensure smooth and expeditious procurement transactions, with the Canadian government guaranteeing the quality of equipment as well as compliance with procurement contracts by Canadian companies.
The Canadian Commercial Corp. serves as a go-between between Canadian suppliers and foreign governments to transact defense and security contracts.
Last month, the Philippine Coast Guard announced it would buy five patrol boats from France for about 90 million euros or $116 million.
There are also ongoing negotiations to purchase 10 PCG vessels from Japan through a loan.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2012/11/11/865305/phl-canada-ink-defense-mou
Philippine President Benigno Aquino (standing, right) with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (standing, left) witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Department of National Defense and the Canadian Commercial Corporation at the presidential palace in Manila
