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By Priam Nepomuceno
MANILA, Aug. 3 — They will not only be sailing into Philippine waters with their weapons, sensors and other equipment intact.
A Defense official said Italy's "Maestrale" class frigates eyed by the government to bolster its Navy will also sail in with technical support which will allow the prospective crew to use the ship to its fullest potential.
DND Undersecretary Fernando Manalo said this is one of the reasons the "Maestrale" is such an attractive proposition.
Technical support means the Italians would train PN personnel in the proper use of the frigates' systems and maintenance.
Acquisition of the ships is expected to cost the Philippine government P 11.7 billion.
Aside from this, the Italian Navy also guaranteed to supply its Filipino counterpart with spares which the ships need for dockyard maintenance.
"It means that we don't have to scrounge around for parts. We can call them about the items we need and they will supply them to us. It means greater availability for our 'Maestrale' for maritime missions," Manalo stressed in Filipino.
He added the Italians will put the ships on "zero time" or intensive overhaul wherein their equipment — weapons, navigation, sensors, engines, and hulls — will be made good as new.
"This will take around nine months. Once it is complete, the ships will be good as new or even better," he emphasized.
Read the full story at Balita