DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong (Photo courtesy of DND) MANILA - The steel cutting for the two corvettes to be acquired from South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), is expected to begin by the fourth quarter of this year. Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong confirmed this when sought for an update on the Philippine Navy (PN)'s Corvette Acquisition Program (CAP). "(HHI) completed the preliminary design review (PDR) for the corvettes last week. It will be subjected to a TIAC (Technical Inspection and Acceptance Committee). Once the PDR is approved by the TIAC, HHI will then proceed to do CDR (Critical Design Review)," he added in a message Thursday night. Andolong said the steel cutting will begin once the CDR is reviewed and approved by the TIAC. The CDR is considered the "shipbuilder's bible" while the ships are being built. "Only when the CDR is approved by the TIAC will steel cutting begin. This will s
National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (File photo) MANILA - Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Tuesday expressed his delight after the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) for the 15 percent advance payment for the Philippine Navy (PN)'s Corvette Acquisition Program (CAP). "We have been waiting for this for the procurement process to proceed," he said when asked by the Philippine News Agency for a reaction after the DBM released the SARO to the DND last Dec. 10. The SARO worth PHP3.75 billion is intended to "cover the funding requirements for the 15 percent advance payment for the CAP of the PN under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program." Lorenzana also said there are still several steps to be done before the contract is signed. "Our target is before the year ends," he added. With this development, Lorenzana said the DND can go on