THE Philippine Navy is confident it can have its first strategic sea lift vessel (SSV) from Indonesia at least before President Aquino leaves office next year as the construction of the ship is more than 70-percent complete.
A navy official said the construction of the vessel is moving at full speed as the contractor, Indonesian state-owned ship building company PT PAL, is moving to meet its May 2016 deadline for the delivery of the first ship.
“We are confident we can have our first SSV before our Commander in Chief will pass the baton to his successor. We will remember him as the President who spearheaded the capability upgrade of not only the Navy, but the whole Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP],” he said.
The Department of National Defense (DND) has ordered two SSVs from PT PAL through a contract worth P3.8 billion signed last year, after the state-owned Indonesian company bagged bidding held on November 18, 2014.
The two SSVs would be the second, if not the most, important ship acquisition by the Navy under the Aquino administration, following the purchase of two former US Coast Guard Cutters, one which is now the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, currently the Navy’s flagship.
Aquino said the Navy intends to get frigates as his administration, will give a total of at least P83 billion in modernization money to the AFP which will extend up to 2017 or beyond his term.
As of this year, the administration has already given the military nearly P60 billion worth of assets and equipment, including those whose contracts have been signed, foremost of which was a squadron of South Korean-made brand new FA-50 lead in fighter jets, two of which had been delivered.
However, Aquino will no longer be around when the frigates, which are also being looked upon to be sourced out from South Korea, are delivered. No less than Navy Chief Vice Admiral Caesar Taccad attended the keel laying of the second SSV in Indonesia in June when he was still the vice commander of the Navy.
The second SSV is contracted to be delivered in May 2017.
The keel laying of the first SSV was made several weeks earlier.
The SSVs will serve as the Navy’s floating command center, while carrying out their main purpose as military sealift and transport vessels.
PT PAL said the two SSVS will be armed with 76 mm and 25 mm guns, whose supplier the Philippine Navy will decide.
6 comments
Di ako magtaka kung bakit nilalangaw ang website na ito.
Rene Acosta – Please correct the error.
FYI – calling Indonesians “Indon” is akin to calling Niger to African Americans, Chink to Chinese and Indios to Filipinos. A racial slur they find offensive.
Indonesians are the closest genetic relative to Filipinos, as most Malaysians are either Chinese or Indian decent.
Dont call us Indon, its offensife term. I am Indonesia, better you call me else than that word.
Kayaknya andai shilitpina lebih kaya dari kita bakalan kejadian sombong kayak negara jiran utara. Mentalitas pinoy pride mereka bener2 ‘out of this world’ kayaknya #Sigh
BTW salam kenal gombaljaya 😉
Hey Rene Acosta, read and understand article bellow :
https://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/03/07/why-indon-not-preferable.html
Why ‘Indon’ is not preferable
Nelly Martin
, Madison, Wisconsin | March 07 2012 | 11:05 AM
It all started when I overheard some of my neighboring countrymen refer to an Indonesian as an “Indon”. I never expected that I would hear such word in this campus. To my understanding, there would not be any educated person using the word.
Surprisingly, some Indonesians refer to themselves as an “Indon” on their Facebook statuses. These statuses undoubtedly cause a great number of controversial comments. Many, if not all, criticized the use of “Indon”. Most comments suggested that the term is derogatory to Indonesians. I then did a Google search and found some newspaper articles on the issue.
Interestingly but unsurprisingly, Google linked to some other news about “Indon” that were written either by Indonesians or Malaysians.
The former indicate that they hate being referred to in such a way, while the latter seemed to use the word to mock or disparage a group of Indonesian workers working in Malaysia. The adjectives used around “Indon” ranged from sexy to stupid. Some of the statements were: “I hate Indon”, “Jangan berkawan dengan orang Indon” (don’t make friends with Indon), “Don’t let Indon workers back in” and “Indon please stop ganyang (crushing) Malaysia”.
The media reported that Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur had protested against the use of the word “Indon” in one Malaysian newspaper. The embassy objected to the word due to the negative and derogatory meaning it carries. They were dismayed that the Malaysian Olympic Assembly vice president WY Chin used the word “Indon” during an interview with Berita Harian, Malaysia.
The Indonesian government felt so disappointed that both Indonesian and Malaysian governments have agreed the word is not to be used, including in the mass media. It was decided that the term is humiliating and embarrassing.
Semantically speaking, Urban Dictionary defines the word as: “An offensive term used by Malaysians. It is even used by the government, signifying the biased opinions of the Malaysian government. Used in the same context as ‘nigger’, it is offensive only if used by Malaysians. For example, ‘I’m jealous of those rich Indons,’ said a Malay person.”
Historically speaking, the term “Indon” refers to some Indonesians working and living in Malaysia. Language is about usage and context. Originally, the word was used to disparage this group of people. It is then obvious that the term is not used to respect Indonesians.
Additionally, interpreting from the usage in Berita Harian and other related websites, the use of “Indon” now is also to devalue Indonesians, not only as uneducated, trouble-making workers in Malaysia. It may be safely assumed that it becomes profanity.
A number of Malaysians use “Indon” derogatorily to some Indonesians. Like some Americans that find “nigger” derogatory, “Indon”, for most Indonesians, resonates the same meaning.
In terms of function, profanity has two functions: To buttress solidarity, and to express anger, fear or frustration. Others have described it as a disrespectful nickname for a racial group.
It is then safe to conclude that “Indon” is also a racial slur. Like profanity, a slur is an identity that functions as a vehicle to promote an in-group harmony. However, the effect for the targeted group can be really offensive.
The effect of a verbal abuse is as offensive as the physical blows. Moreover, this term can be safely
referred to as hate speech.
It goes without saying that “Indon” is a profanity, slur and hate speech that can cause a variety
of unfavorable feelings for the recipient. Though it can also function to create a group member’s solidarity, the effects can result in psychological consequences that might be far more dangerous than some physical reactions.
So, my fellow friends, do you still refer yourself with this derogatory term or still call on others with this pejorative term?
The writer is a Fulbright Presidential Scholar and a PhD student at SLA program, UW-Madison, United States, as well as an alumna of department of linguistics, Ohio University.
– See more at: https://m.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/03/07/why-indon-not-preferable.html#sthash.JyqbOp3h.dpuf
Dear writer, please use Indonesia instead Indon. Butthurt much when you knew that your pinoy military bought something from us and you were try to belittle us to make your jealous heart better? Geez…