Padilla pushes for acquisition of amphibious aircraft amid WPS tensions

Senator Robin Padilla is pushing for the country's acquisition of a Multi-Purpose Amphibious Aircraft for the Philippine Navy amid the escalating territorial tension in the West Philippine Sea.

Padilla said such amphibious aircraft allows easier conduct of the armed forces' other missions such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response, search and rescue at sea, maritime air surveillance, as well as intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, and other similar missions.

"The MPAAs can greatly help in supply missions. They do not need escorts and they cannot be blocked by watercraft maneuvers. Amphibious aircraft can take off and land on land and water," Padilla noted.

He said the use of MPAAs would reduce the travel hours for the resupply mission.

"While a current resupply mission using watercraft may take a day and a half to reach BRP Sierra Madre, the MPAA can do this in five to eight hours," he pointed out.

"Such aircraft can greatly help in patrolling not just the West Philippine Sea but also other islands in our archipelago," he added.

Padilla underscored the need to address constant changes in the national defense, including the new maritime security challenges confronted by the country in the WPS.

"Because of such needs, we seek priority for the acquisition of MPAAs for our Philippine Navy," he said.