New Blackhawk choppers boost PAF s operational readiness –DND
Published May 23, 2021 12:44am Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Saturday that the recent acquisition of S-70is Blackhawk utility medium-lift helicopters had greatly boosted the operational readiness of the Philippine Air Force in both combat and non-combat missions. Their larger capacity and impressive horsepower allows for a faster and long-range transport, Lorenzana said in a Facebook post. Looking forward to the delivery of the remaining 10 Blackhawks this year. According to the Philippine News Agency, the PAF commissioned the first six of 16 Polish-made Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk helicopters it ordered in 2019 as part of its program to modernize its fleet of helicopters.
Philippine envoy confident VFA is here to stay By LLANESCA T. PANTI, GMA News
Published March 5, 2021 2:29pm Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez expressed confidence Friday that the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between Manila and Washington will remain with the latter committing to aid the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization program. Romualdez made the response when asked about the VFA’s future given that President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the US to pay the Philippines if they want the agreement to continue. “Every year, pinag-uusapan ang VFA, iyong Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). Ang interpretation namin sa sinabi ni Presidente ay dahil imo-modernize ang ating Armed Forces,” Romualdez said during the Laging Handa briefing.