Korean government hands over second-hand trucks and equipment to AFP

By Ronron
April 11, 2007

The Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday handed over 134 trucks and construction equipment to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which is seen by the Philippine government as “an affirmation of continuing friendship” between the two countries.

The grant consists of 90 2.5-ton cargo trucks, nine 2.5-ton trucks with crane, six 5-ton cargo trucks, eight 5-ton dump trucks, 14 1.25-ton cargo trucks, and seven bulldozers.

“That will actually double the lift capability of the Armed Forces,” Defense Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane, Jr. said of the second-hand equipment in an interview after the formal hand-over rites yesterday morning at Camp Aguinaldo.

Present to turn over the equipment on behalf of the Korean Minister of Defense is ROK Ambassador to Manila Hong Jong Ki. Ebdane received the vehicles on behalf of the Philippines, and was witnessed by AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.

“The grant was a result of a Transfer Agreement signed last March 10 under the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Logistics and Defense Industry Cooperation signed in May 1994 to enhance cooperation in logistics and promote defense cooperation in the defense industry between the two countries,” a Defense Department statement said.

Ebdane said the Philippines shouldered the shipment cost of the vehicles worth P23 million, as agreed upon.

In a separate interview, Esperon described the vehicles to be in good working condition even if they range from three to 10 years old already.

He said that of the 134 ground mobility vehicles, 43 will go to the Philippine Navy, mostly to the Philippine Marine Corps. The rest will be distributed among the Philippine Army and the Philippine Air Force, while a few will be retained at Camp Aguinaldo.

Esperon said the places where the vehicles will be dispatched to will be decided by the major service commanders.

“The vehicles will go a long way in helping our Defense for Development Agenda to bring about more results in more areas in the near future. With the added mobility, we are in a better position to do more, for more communities,” Ebdane said./DMS