MANILA - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the PHP12.7 billion allocated earlier for the acquisition of the Russian-made Mil-17 heavy-lift helicopter could be utilized to acquire the Boeing-manufactured CH-47 "Chinook". PAF spokesperson, Col. Maynard Mariano, made this remark when asked if there is a need for another budget should the "Chinook" be deemed by the technical working group (TWG) as qualified per the Air Force's requirements. "They will have to work on the same budget," he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Wednesday night. The PHP12.7 billion fund was allocated to supposedly acquire 16 to 17 units of the Mil Mi-17 with the contract signed in November last year. At present, Mariano said the TWG is looking at the feasibility of the American-made helicopter for the PAF's heavy-lift helicopter requirement. "The study will be done and is now being done by the TWG," he said. Earlier, Mariano said it is up to the TWG t
(File photo) MANILA - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) will conduct a flyby of its most modern aircraft on June 12, in celebration of the country's 124th Independence Day. PAF spokesperson Col. Maynard Mariano, in a message to the Philippine News Agency Wednesday, said the flyby will consist of the Mach 1.5 capable FA-50 light jet fighter, A-29B "Super Tucano" close-air support aircraft, the S-70i "Black Hawk" combat utility helicopter and the AgustaWestland AW-109 attack chopper. The majority of these planes and helicopters were delivered to the PAF within the last five to six years. Two aircraft per type will be participating in the Independence Day flyby, he added. "The flyby is meant to honor and observe the country's 124th Independence Day," Mariano said. The flyby is also the reason why Metro Manila residents have been seeing these aircraft over the airspace of the metropolis for the past few days. "(The pilots are practicing) for the flyb
Comelec-Negros Oriental provincial election supervisor-designate lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Negros Oriental is worried over the lack of available contingency vote-counting machines (VCMs) as replacements for broken or malfunctioning units during the conduct of the May 9 national and local elections. Lawyer Lionel Marco Castillano, Comelec-Negros Oriental provincial election supervisor-designate, told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday afternoon it is worrisome that to date not a single contingency VCM unit has arrived in the province. Castillano said the Comelec does not have enough contingency VCM units for the entire country and so they have to institute alternative means at the local level to ensure that the official ballots are scanned, recorded, and transmitted. "We are going to carry out the final testing and sealing of all VCMs to be used in the elections tomorrow (Thursday) and
THANKFUL. Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera (seen in this undated photo inside his office) thanks President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday (Jan. 5, 2022) for the immediate release of funds needed for the recovery of the local government units (LGUs) in the province, as well as the financial assistance for the distressed residents in the area. The Department of Budget and Management started downloading on Dec. 29, 2021 the PHP53.4 million funds for the recovery efforts of the affected LGUs and the PHP154.5 million funding for financial aid to the affected residents. (PNA file photo by Alexander Lopez) BUTUAN CITY - Agusan del Norte Governor Dale Corvera is thanking President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the national government for the provision of immediate response to towns badly hit by Typhoon Odette in December last year. In a message sent to Philippine News Agency Wednesday, Corvera said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has downloaded two separate funds directly to the di
(File photo courtesy of Philippine Rice Research Institute Agusan) BUTUAN CITY - The Department of Agriculture in Caraga (DA-13) has assured rice and corn farmers badly affected by Typhoon Odette of immediate support including the provision of seeds. Emmylou Presilda, DA-13 information officer, told the Philippine News Agency Wednesday that the agency has standby rice seeds that are ready for distribution to the affected areas in the region. "We have standby rice seeds of more than 400 sacks. This will be augmented soonest as we are now validating reports from the field," Presilda said. Two days after Odette made landfall in Mindanao, the DA central office said it will utilize around PHP852.47 million in standby funds to aid the distressed farmers affected by the recent typhoon. Of the total aid, PHP148 million will be used for rice seeds, PHP57.6 million for corn seeds, and another PHP44.6-million for assorted vegetable seeds. Initial data released by DA-13 showed that PHP15