'Failed bidding for purchase of choppers won't affect PAF operations'

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Air Force (PAF) expressed confidence yesterday that the recent decision of the Department of National Defense (DND) to declare a failed bidding on the purchase of seven attack helicopters would not affect the performance of its duties.

Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Oscar Rabena said they would just make do with their existing assets even as he admitted the procurement of aircraft was delayed.

“This (failed bidding) will mean an adjustment in the timeline on the delivery of our attack helicopters but we’ll make do with what we have now,” Rabena said.

“This will not have much impact on our operations. We’ll just have to wait for a little longer for the arrival of brand new attack helicopters,” he added.

Rabena said the delivery of air assets might be delayed for months.

He said they have refurbished the engines of their MG-520 helicopters to make them operational while awaiting the arrival of new aircraft.

Rabena said the PAF expects to acquire eight combat utility helicopters, 10 trainers and seven attack helicopters next year.

Earlier this month, the DND declared as a failure the bidding for the purchase of seven units of attack helicopters worth P3.2 billion.

DND followed the recommendation of the board of inquiry (BOI) that was formed to investigate the alleged irregularities in the bidding.

While the BOI did not find proof that there was collusion among the bidder and project managers, a decision to reduce the number of aircraft to be bought was found to be disadvantageous to the government.

DND said the project management team (PMT), composed of military officers, reduced the quantity of helicopters to be acquired to seven from eight in the effort to attract more bidders.

“The BOI found the PMT’s decision to reduce the quantity of the attack helicopters that can be acquired from eight to seven out of the P3.2 billion approved budget for the contract, to be unquestionably disadvantageous to the government,” DND spokesman Eduardo Batac had said.

“This consequently would deprive the government of a considerable amount estimated at more or less P400 million,” he added.

DND noted that only one firm – Poland’s PZL Swidnik SA – could supply eight attack helicopters for P3.2 billion.

“If they (PMT) stopped with eight units there will only be one bidder again so in order to generate more proponents they lowered the number of units to seven,” Batac said.

Last September, the government conducted a bidding for the acquisition of seven attack helicopters. Only PZL Swidnik SA submitted an offer as the five other prospective bidders backed out.

Bayan Muna party list Rep. Teodoro Casiño claimed there are “tell-tale signs” of anomalies in the transaction since only one firm participated in the bidding.

The DND created the BOI last October to look into the alleged collusion in the bidding.