OFW Filipino Heroes

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

USA and Canada bags order worth ₱1.26 billion 21 Huey helicopters for PAF delivery June 2014

With a Marine on the guide using hand gestures to guide them, two AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 261 (Reinforced), the aviation combat element of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), arrive at Al Asad Airfield, Iraq, Dec. 22, 2005. The 22nd MEU (SOC) is currently deployed in Iraq's Al Anbar province in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Photo by Sgt Richard D. Stephens). Photo from marines.mil

 

A joint venture of two companies based in North America has bagged the deal to supply 21 UH-1 combat utility helicopters to the Philippine Air Force.

 

The joint venture of American firm Rice Aircraft Services Inc. and Canadian company Eagle Copters Ltd. won the contract for the supply and delivery of Huey helicopters, the workhorse of the military's operations.

 

The STAR news learned that the notice of award was issued to the joint venture last week of December.

 

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Defense Assistant Secretary Patrick Velez said in an interview the Huey helicopters can be used for rescue and internal security operations.

 

"The helicopters will be used to meet immediate requirements. They will be used to address the dwindling capability of the Air Force," Velez said.

 

The approved outlay for the project was 1.26 billion, but the helicopters would be purchased for about 1.25 million less than the approved budget for the contract, he added.

 

The supplier is expected to start delivery within six months.

 

"The first delivery based on the requirements is six months but they might deliver that in as close as two weeks," Velez said.

 

Earlier, the Defense department held three public biddings for the Huey helicopters acquisition project but all of these failed due to the bidders' failure to meet some requirements. The Defense department then resorted to an alternative form of procurement to acquire the helicopters.

 

Officials said the procurement mode was similar to public bidding but without the publication requirements. Under a public bidding, the procuring agency should publish a bid notice in newspapers and the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System website.

 

Section 53 of the implementing rules of the procurement law allows agencies to resort to a negotiated procurement when there has been a failure of public bidding for the second time.

 

Negotiated procurement was defined as "a method of procurement of goods, infrastructure projects and consulting services, whereby the procuring entity directly negotiates a contract with a technically, legally and financially capable supplier, contractor or consultant."

 

The 21 UH-1 helicopters were originally intended to perform poll-related duties last May but the acquisition had been delayed by failed biddings.

 

Fighter jets

 

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the delivery of lead-in fighter trainer jets to be acquired from South Korea may start in June 2015.

 

The government plans to spend 18.9 billion to acquire 12 FA-50 supersonic fighter jets from South Korea to boost the Air Force's territorial defense capabilities. –Source: Depensa.org

 

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A Visayan beauty of Cebu Central Philippines crowned as Miss Tourism International on New Years Eve

ANOTHER PINAY WOWS THE WORLD (AP) — Angeli Dione Gomez of Cebu City reacts after being crowned as 2013-2014 Miss Tourism International in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on Dec. 31, 2013. She took the crown from another Cebuana, Rizzini Alexis Gomez, the previous winner of the international beauty pageant.

  • Crowned Miss Tourism International - Miss Angeli Dione Gomez of Cebu, the Philippines
  • 1st Runner-up - Sunidporn Srisuwan, Thailand (Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International
  • 2013)
  • 2nd Runner up - Sarah Czarnuch, Australia (Miss Tourism Metropolitan 2013)
  • 3rd Runner up - Michelle Alexis Torres, Dominican Republic (Miss Tourism Global 2013)
  • 4th Runner up - Thaarah Ganesan, Malaysia (Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan)

 

Miss Angeli Dione Gomez a Visayan from Cebu of the Central Philippines was crowned the Miss Tourism International 2013/2014 on the New Year's Eve in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

 

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The 20-year-old, who wanted to be a film director, was ecstatic to bring back the crown to Philippines after the country won it last year.

 

"The first thing I plan to do is to meet my family whom I have not met for about one month and have a nice breakfast with them tomorrow," she told reporters.

 

As the title holder, Gomez will be tasked as travelling ambassador in promoting informal international relations between countries to spread the message of peace, goodwill and friendship.

 

The first runner-up who also held the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year 2013/2014 went to Sunidporn Srisuwan from Thailand; second runner-up also carried the Miss Metropolitan 2013/2014 won by Sarah Czarnuch from Australia; Third placeplace won by Michelle Alexis Torres from Dominican Republic which carried the Miss Tourism Global International 2013/2014 title and Malaysia representative Thaarah Ganesan won fifth place which carried the title Miss Tourism Cosmopolitan International 2013/2014.

 

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the ministry would give its support to the pageant which he believed make significant mark in the tourism industry especially in 2014 as Visit Malaysia Year.

 

"The wheels have already been set in motion with the public and private sectors doing their utmost best to promote the country to local and overseas visitors. 

 

And doing its part in promoting the country nationwide and globally was D'Touch International Sdn Bhd, he said, that had organized the Miss Tourism International 2013 World Final for the 17th consecutive years.

 

As the only New Year's Eve pageant in the world, he said, this year's Miss Tourism International World Final held on Dec 31 added significant in the Tourism Calendar as Visit Year Malaysia 2014 event took off one day after the World Final.

 

 "What more, the Miss Tourism International World Final has had already made inroads into the pageantry industry, as it is not only a Malaysian homegrown title, but it is also franchised to more than 80 countries around the world.

 

"This year's event, held to promote peace, friendship and cultural exchanges between the participants, will see a record number of 60 delegates from all converging on Malaysia to vie for the title.  

 

"This set as a record for the largest participation ever since the inaugural event held in Kuching, Sarawak in 1994," he said.

 

Such an event, he said, would in turn lure more tourist arrivals and placing the country in the international spotlight through global news coverage of the World Final be it in print or electronic.

 

As an acknowledgement of the pageant's success, the Miss Tourism International Title owned by Datuk Danny Ooi was accorded International Branding status as the Country Branding of the Year Award 2013 at the Brand Laurette Awards 2013 organized by Asia Pacific Brands Foundation.

 

This cemented Miss Tourism International Pageant's reputation and stature as a top-class and prestigious event recognized worldwide, Nazri said.

 

2013 International Beauty Queens

 

This was the second time in 2013 that beauty queen mentor Rodgil Flores produced an international beauty queen. Last December, Bea Rose Santiago won the 2013 Miss International beauty contest in Tokyo, Japan. 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman Alcaraz also belonged to the "Kagandahang Flores" group.

 

The year 2013 finished with an impressive four major crowns for the Philippines and Top 5 placements in international beauty pageants.

 

In 2013, Mutya Johanna Datul won the first title for the country in the Miss Supranational contest in Belarus. It was followed by Megan Lynne Young, the country's first Miss World, in a pageant held in Bali, Indonesia; Bea Rose Santiago, 2013 Miss International; and now Angeli Gomez, 2013 Miss Tourism International.

 

Miss Philippines Maria Isabelle Zaragoza Mendoza, of San Beda College, was also crowned 2013/2014 Miss Campus World contest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last December 6. Mister Philippines Ronald William de Dios finished second in the same contest.

 

Other notable placements were Ariella Arida, third runner-up, 2013 Miss Universe contest in Moscow, Russia; Gil Wagas, fourth runner-up, 2013 Mister International contest, Bali, Indonesia; and Ali Forbes, 2013 Miss Grand International pageant, in Bangkok, Thailand.

 

Gomez's victory is the latest in a string of victories for the Philippines in international beauty pageants.

 

Among the Filipina pageant victors this year are Megan Young (Miss World), Mutya Johanna Datul (Miss Supranational), and Bea Rose Santiago (Miss International).

 

Top 10:

  1. Australia - Sarah Czarnuch
  2. Vietnam - Phan Hoang Thu
  3. Bosnia & Herzegovina - Aleksandra Kovacevic
  4. Ukraine - Oleksandra Timonina
  5. Thailand - Sunidporn Srisuwan
  6. Portugal - Sara Monica Matias da Silveira
  7. Zimbabwe - Dananai Ratiozo Chipunza
  8. Philippines - Angeli Dione Gomez
  9. Malaysia - Thaarah Ganesan
  10. Dominican Republic - Michelle Alexis

 

Miss Tourism International 2013 Special Awards:

  •  Miss Proton Elegance - Portugal
  • Miss Beautiful Skin - Singapore
  • Miss Friendship - Uganda
  • Best in Talent - Armenia
  • Miss Tourism International 2013
  • Great Ambassador Award - Hong Kong
  • Miss Southeast Asia - Vietnam
  • Best National Costume - Mexico
  • Miss Beverly Wilshire Gorgeous - Miss Indonesia
  • Miss Portrait Queen - Romania
  • Miss Focus Point Dazzling - Poland
  • Miss Charity Queen - Korea
  • Miss KL Sogo Trendsetter - Australia
  • Miss Avant Garde i-City - Malaysia
  • Miss Poh Kong Glamour – Australia

 

With report from Manila Bulletin, ABS-CBN News and New Strait Times

 

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