Carmela Fonbuena
Seven companies can file motions for reconsideration to supply the Philippine Air Force with 2 aircraft units that will help boost maritime surveillance
MANILA, Philippines – The first stage of bidding for a P5.9-billion ($133.6 million)* contract for 2 long-range patrol aircraft for the Philippine Air Force (PAF) failed on Monday, August 11.
Seven of the 10 companies that bought bid documents joined the bidding Monday, but – after 12 hours of the bidding session and a series of executive meetings – they were declared "ineligible." They were, however, given 3 days to file motions for reconsideration, according to defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong.
Long-range patrol aircraft were no longer in the inventory of the air force, but the acquisition project was conceived to boost the country's maritime domain awareness as tensions grow in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) among claimant countries.
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