PHL acquiring French vessel for West PHL Sea

[bohica]

The Philippines said Saturday it is purchasing a surplus French Navy vessel to boost its forces in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) where it has an ongoing territorial dispute with China.
 
The 26-year-old "La Tapageuse" vessel is likely to be the first of several French ships that will be acquired by the Philippine coastguard as it contends with increasingly assertive Chinese forces.
 
The 54.8-meter (180-foot) patrol ship will cost six million Euros ($7.97 million) and is due to arrive in the country by April next year, a coastguard statement said.
 
The ship, which is armed with two cannon and two machine-guns, was inspected before acquisition and is good for 20 more years of service, the coastguard said.
 
"This French vessel is multi-functional and it would be a major contribution to our fleet, particularly in our search and rescue operations," coastguard chief Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena was quoted as saying in the statement.
 
The Philippines is also "finalizing" with the French government the purchase of four brand-new 24-meter and one 82-meter multipurpose vessels, Isorena said.
 
These new ships would arrive in the first quarter of 2015, the statement added, without specifying their cost.
 
Patrol boats

Isorena also said the PCG was already set to acquire 10 multi-role patrol boats under an aid program with Japan.

The announcement came as a second-hand US Hamilton-class cutter acquired by the Philippine Navy sailed into the country's waters, where it will also help in patrolling the West Philippine Sea.

Last Friday, the country’s new warship Hamilton-class cutter BRP Ramon Alcaraz arrived in the Philippines. The 378-foot-long warship was originally commissioned in 1968 but t was retired and turned over to the Philippines in May 2012. The country spent some $15.15 million to refurbish the warship.

Likewise, the Philippine navy revealed that three new Augusta 109 helicopters are coming in December to aide the maritime surveillance in the country.
 
In 2011, the Philippines acquired its first warship, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, named after the country’s war hero.

Maritime tensions

Tensions have risen in recent years over China's increasingly-forceful claims to almost all of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), even up to the coast of its neighbors like the Philippines.
 
These tensions have worsened since Chinese government vessels seized the Scarborough Shoal, a Wes Philippine Sea outcrop just 230 kilometers (140 miles) east of the main Philippine island of Luzon, last year.
 
The Philippines has also complained about the presence of Chinese navy vessels near the Manila-controlled Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.
 
The Philippines has one of the most poorly-equipped military in the region and has been trying to beef up its armed forces in the face of the maritime disputes.
— Agence France-Presse, with Rouchelle R. Dinglasan /LBG, GMA News

[¿m☺ÿ]

hindi kaya tawanan lang ng China yung mga vessel na binili ng Pinas? anyway, i hope it will help our navy. the government should buy new ships also para naman kahit papaano eh may malakas na pang-intimidate sa mga chinese....
+karma sa iyo sir

[amy2004]

I doubt if this old scrap can intimidate the Chinese, nasanay kasi tayo sa comedy!
Again for the nth time in this forum I will reiterate there is an affordable solution for this quagmire that we are into right now. WE NEED TO RETHINK AND CHANGE OUR DEFENSE ARCHITECTURE!

[Prime™]

Hmm.. San ko ba nadinig yun...?

Pero didn't we have some ships that has to be moored and almost abandoned because maintenance and fuel was too expensive?

Anyway I hope that doesn't happen again. Whether we agree or not on the purchase, anjan na yan eh. Lets just hope they know what they are doing, and it's useful in the long term.

Anyway thanks for the share mate. Good one.

[saranghandagu]

Kelangan nating i develop ang sarili nating defence manufacturers. We need to invest on boats, island missiles, anti aircraft and anti ship guns, radar.

Parang red alert lang yan, bago mo susugurin ang kampo ng kalaban, dapat may pang depensa ka muna.

[Prime™]

Kelangan nating i develop ang sarili nating defence manufacturers. We need to invest on boats, island missiles, anti aircraft and anti ship guns, radar.

Parang red alert lang yan, bago mo susugurin ang kampo ng kalaban, dapat may pang depensa ka muna.

That's all well and good my friend, pero I would rather they offer muna truly free of charge universal healthcare and education sa mga kababayan natin. After that sige kahit Kirov at Tesla tank pa bilhin nila walang problema haha

[saranghandagu]

That's all well and good my friend, pero I would rather they offer muna truly free of charge universal healthcare and education sa mga kababayan natin. After that sige kahit Kirov at Tesla tank pa bilhin nila walang problema haha

Trust me on this one na ang free of charge na health care doesn't work. Mas maganda ang system natin sa pinas wherein we shop for health care. However, I do agree sa education.

Still, ang defence manufacturer doesn't mean na gubyerno. Bagkus, dapat sa mga private local defence manufacturer i-award ng gubyerno ang contracts like handguns, etc. Para masuportahan ito.

[Prime™]

Trust me on this one na ang free of charge na health care doesn't work. Mas maganda ang system natin sa pinas wherein we shop for health care. However, I do agree sa education.

Still, ang defence manufacturer doesn't mean na gubyerno. Bagkus, dapat sa mga private local defence manufacturer i-award ng gubyerno ang contracts like handguns, etc. Para masuportahan ito.

I'm interested to hear why you think that's the case with universal healthcare? What's the cons in your opinion, mate?
Just so I understand where you're coming from.

[saranghandagu]

Hindi siya sustainable brad. Once you offer something for free sa citizenry, yang offer na yan ay hindi na mababawi kundi magkakaroon ng rebolusyon.

Ang buhay ng tao humahaba, and the free healthcare (na nanggagaling din sa tax) ang magbabayad niyan. Lahat ng tao kesyo mataba, pabaya, o matanda, mag aavail ng healthcare dahil libre naman e. Ang magbabayad niyan gubyerno. The more na tumatanda ang populasyon and the more na humahaba ang buhay ng tao, ang burden e masyadong mabigat so hindi ma susustain yan ng gubyerno. Ngayon, trap na ang goverment dahil pag kinuha nila ang free healthcare magkakaroon ng rebolusyon, reklamo, o rally. Ang gagawin ng gubyerno to delay its collapse is to borrow money from international borrowers to sustain this welfare. It's a band-aid fix. It just delays the inevitable. Hindi siya sustainable, masaya pag meron, but not feasible.

That's why hanga ako sa healthcare ng Pinas, oo hindi kalidad pero depende sa kakayahan mo. Wala kang pambayad o sobrang kaunti lang pera mo, pila ka sa government hospital, and don't complain about the service. May kaunti kang pera na nakatabi, choose a private hospital na maliit ang get that minimum standard of care. You want a suite like service, then go to St. Lukes o Asian Hospital. May choices, depende sa kung anong abot kaya mo. The good thing about this system? Choice and sustainability.

Matanda ka na, like 80, magpapa bypass ka pa ba sa puso? Sa free healthcare kailangan nilang gawin yun no matter what. Tapos mabubuhay ng ilang taon? 5 years for a million peso operation depende sa kung ilang ugat ang ilalagay, hindi sulit. Hindi tama, lalo na finite ang resources natin.

Ang Philhealth natin is very commendable lalo na sa pagpapababa ng hospital expenses pero that system is very sustainable, and it is in fact better, than free healthcare to all.

Dito papasok ang sinasabi kong education, kasi pag may health education ang tao (like RH law) e kahit papano magkakaroon sila ng informed choices kung ano gusto nilang gawin.

[Prime™]

Hindi siya sustainable brad. Once you offer something for free sa citizenry, yang offer na yan ay hindi na mababawi kundi magkakaroon ng rebolusyon.

Ang buhay ng tao humahaba, and the free healthcare (na nanggagaling din sa tax) ang magbabayad niyan. Lahat ng tao kesyo mataba, pabaya, o matanda, mag aavail ng healthcare dahil libre naman e. Ang magbabayad niyan gubyerno. The more na tumatanda ang populasyon and the more na humahaba ang buhay ng tao, ang burden e masyadong mabigat so hindi ma susustain yan ng gubyerno. Ngayon, trap na ang goverment dahil pag kinuha nila ang free healthcare magkakaroon ng rebolusyon, reklamo, o rally. Ang gagawin ng gubyerno to delay its collapse is to borrow money from international borrowers to sustain this welfare. It's a band-aid fix. It just delays the inevitable. Hindi siya sustainable, masaya pag meron, but not feasible.

That's why hanga ako sa healthcare ng Pinas, oo hindi kalidad pero depende sa kakayahan mo. Wala kang pambayad o sobrang kaunti lang pera mo, pila ka sa government hospital, and don't complain about the service. May kaunti kang pera na nakatabi, choose a private hospital na maliit ang get that minimum standard of care. You want a suite like service, then go to St. Lukes o Asian Hospital. May choices, depende sa kung anong abot kaya mo. The good thing about this system? Choice and sustainability.

Matanda ka na, like 80, magpapa bypass ka pa ba sa puso? Sa free healthcare kailangan nilang gawin yun no matter what. Tapos mabubuhay ng ilang taon? 5 years for a million peso operation depende sa kung ilang ugat ang ilalagay, hindi sulit. Hindi tama, lalo na finite ang resources natin.

Ang Philhealth natin is very commendable lalo na sa pagpapababa ng hospital expenses pero that system is very sustainable, and it is in fact better, than free healthcare to all.

Dito papasok ang sinasabi kong education, kasi pag may health education ang tao (like RH law) e kahit papano magkakaroon sila ng informed choices kung ano gusto nilang gawin.

Alright good points mate. I'm not going to debate you with your opinion, you gave good reasons. It's just to me I feel na dapat lang sagutin ng gobyerno yan after all, sino ba ang nag babayad ng lahat kundi tao din.

Universal healthcare in a way na completely free for those who cannot afford, and para naman doon sa can afford they could still opt for private institutions like St. Lukes or Asian. To me okay lang na sagutin ng government. Maraming sinasagot ang gobyerno natin, ultimo ticket papuntang Las Vegas para makapanood kay Pacquaio sinasagot nila eh. Mas okay sakin na gastusin nalang yan pang bypass nung otchenta años na walang pambayad.

I would rather na sa tao nalang mapunta and sa infrastructure rather than sa pork barrel na ang excuse nila ay pantulong din doon sa mga walang pambayad sa hospital.

The brother of one of our employees just died the other day because ayaw siya operahan ng ospital dahil walang pambayad. Government hospital ito. Yes libre ang kwarto pero ang gagamitin sa operation hindi. They were asking for the money and the family wasn't able to provide that amount in time. In the end ang libing is this Saturday.

I don't have much experience with government hospitals kaya I cannot say ito ang kalakaran ng lahat dito, pero this is what I found out from a very personal view point.

I understand your point about kailangan isustain. That also goes exactly the same for the defense of this country. Either you do it, or you don't. There is no middle ground. Kagaya nung nabalitang meron tayong mga barko na naka tengga, pano walang pang gas.

The point is if another power has the intention to invade us, they can. No amount of ship or planes we could muster right now to counter that. Not unless we become rich ourselves and are able to sustain such a thing, ningas kugon lang yan.

Sure mag lagay tayo for border patrol, pero for getting ready for war? Malabo yan bro. Hindi natin kakayanin ang budget niyan. Mindanao nga hindi pa matapos tapos ang problema, china pa kaya.

I understand your point na once umpisahan mo, wala ng atrasan yan. I'm not saying we can afford it now, goodness we cannot. I am only hopeful na dumating ang time that the Philippines can actually afford such a thing. And if ever dumating ang time na afford na nga ng Pilipinas itong mga ganitong bagay, I would hope they would first look into Universal Healthcare and completely free education for the masses.

The country needs to be wealthy, yes that is true. Pero it cannot happen hanggat may corruption. You know what irks me mate? The very fact they use these poor people as an excuse para makakulimbat ng pera. Gaya nga ng iniisip ko, hindi aangat ang Pinas if hindi mag babago ang pag iisip as a whole.

Anyway thanks for your opinion mate, plus 1k.

[saranghandagu]

Salamat sa iyong opinyon par and it paints one side of the story. It does, pero I've worked in the super model daw ng free healthcare  and that is NHS ng UK. It's free. Totally. So ano na siya ngayon? NHS cuts because a first world country cannot sustain it. Ang nag papa opera ng bypass duon? Mga obese na walang ginawa kundi kumain. Pag may kaunting diperensiya, they will sue the hospital and get millions from it. Now ang estimate, the NSH will collapse by 2020.

Imbes na free healthcare, ang palagay ko na tamang ginagawa at tamang direksyon is health insurance, Obamacare ika nga. Insurance will shoulder the supposedly cost.

Once the NHS collapse, I don't know what will happen or anong ruckus na mangyayari sa UK. Maybe ala V in Vendetta ang mangyaayari? Anarchy? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Condolence sa kaibigan mo pre. There's always two sides of the same coin. But rather than completely free healthcare, mas pabor ako sa completely free education because education can sustain life.

[Prime™]

Salamat sa iyong opinyon par and it paints one side of the story. It does, pero I've worked in the super model daw ng free healthcare  and that is NHS ng UK. It's free. Totally. So ano na siya ngayon? NHS cuts because a first world country cannot sustain it. Ang nag papa opera ng bypass duon? Mga obese na walang ginawa kundi kumain. Pag may kaunting diperensiya, they will sue the hospital and get millions from it. Now ang estimate, the NSH will collapse by 2020.

Imbes na free healthcare, ang palagay ko na tamang ginagawa at tamang direksyon is health insurance, Obamacare ika nga. Insurance will shoulder the supposedly cost.

Once the NHS collapse, I don't know what will happen or anong ruckus na mangyayari sa UK. Maybe ala V in Vendetta ang mangyaayari? Anarchy? Perhaps. Perhaps not.

Condolence sa kaibigan mo pre. There's always two sides of the same coin. But rather than completely free healthcare, mas pabor ako sa completely free education because education can sustain life.

Actually I had a feeling na baka nga may background ka with this area, that's why I decided to dig deeper. Thanks for the info bro.

Yup those first world countries specifically Britain and some EU states are really taking the brunt of the crisis. Apektado talaga sila.

I saw a documentary made by Moore I forgot his first name. It was about healthcare and he cited GBR in documentary along with Cuba and France.

Reklamo kasi niya yan sa US na at the time wala pang Obama care. About Obama care naman, hindi ko masyado alam ang details, meron pa sila sinasabi na death committee or something. Anyway his heart was on the right place, talaga naman meron mga deserving niyan.

But I couldn't help but think there are underlying motivations and agendas with what he does. After all, bago ka maging presidente lalo na sa US, you need funding, and where does the funding come from? Wealthy folks including big companies.

Before you get that (D) or (R) in your name, you would have to prove to your party that you are a winnable horse, and you win by funding.

Anyway doon sa documentary, some firemen and police na tumulong doon sa 9/11 had to resign from their jobs because of the permanent damage caused by the debris. Some had their lungs permanently damaged from inhaling the toxic dust and fumes, among other complications they had. Insurance didn't cover them anymore or at least to the extent that it would still be useful, wala na kasing trabaho, so they are really screwed by what happened, and by the system.

Anyway there really are two sides of the same coin. If ever they could come up with something that would both be fair and just to both sides of the spectrum, I mean yung nag babayad and yung have nots then the better.

See you around mate.

[angelmassacre]

Hindi siya sustainable brad. Once you offer something for free sa citizenry, yang offer na yan ay hindi na mababawi kundi magkakaroon ng rebolusyon.

Ang buhay ng tao humahaba, and the free healthcare (na nanggagaling din sa tax) ang magbabayad niyan. Lahat ng tao kesyo mataba, pabaya, o matanda, mag aavail ng healthcare dahil libre naman e. Ang magbabayad niyan gubyerno. The more na tumatanda ang populasyon and the more na humahaba ang buhay ng tao, ang burden e masyadong mabigat so hindi ma susustain yan ng gubyerno. Ngayon, trap na ang goverment dahil pag kinuha nila ang free healthcare magkakaroon ng rebolusyon, reklamo, o rally. Ang gagawin ng gubyerno to delay its collapse is to borrow money from international borrowers to sustain this welfare. It's a band-aid fix. It just delays the inevitable. Hindi siya sustainable, masaya pag meron, but not feasible.

That's why hanga ako sa healthcare ng Pinas, oo hindi kalidad pero depende sa kakayahan mo. Wala kang pambayad o sobrang kaunti lang pera mo, pila ka sa government hospital, and don't complain about the service. May kaunti kang pera na nakatabi, choose a private hospital na maliit ang get that minimum standard of care. You want a suite like service, then go to St. Lukes o Asian Hospital. May choices, depende sa kung anong abot kaya mo. The good thing about this system? Choice and sustainability.

Matanda ka na, like 80, magpapa bypass ka pa ba sa puso? Sa free healthcare kailangan nilang gawin yun no matter what. Tapos mabubuhay ng ilang taon? 5 years for a million peso operation depende sa kung ilang ugat ang ilalagay, hindi sulit. Hindi tama, lalo na finite ang resources natin.

Ang Philhealth natin is very commendable lalo na sa pagpapababa ng hospital expenses pero that system is very sustainable, and it is in fact better, than free healthcare to all.

Dito papasok ang sinasabi kong education, kasi pag may health education ang tao (like RH law) e kahit papano magkakaroon sila ng informed choices kung ano gusto nilang gawin.

Very good point. kung di ka magsumikap, eh di hindi ka din aasenso

teka paano ba magbigay ng karma sa message mo?

[GinaCole]

This is a good buy. Our PCG really needs all the asset that it could get. This maybe second hand but it will be very helpful in patrolling our EEZ.

[raisingsun]

pagtiyagaan na lang ang second hand at wala naman daw pantustus ang gobyerno sa mga bagong kagamitan.