Six new offshore patrol vessels (OPV) will soon become part of the Philippine Navy’s fleet as the Department of Defense (DND) confirmed intent to build it in partnership with an Australian shipbuilding company based in Balamban, Cebu.
Defense Sec. Delfin Lorenzana confirmed to reporters on Wednesday this week that they have decided to push through with plans to have local shipbuilders build its naval assets at a budget of P30-billion.
“We have been waiting for this time that somebody else could build our ships into our specifications and Austal could do that since they’ve built ships for the US Navy,” he explained.
Lorenzana said they’ve also chosen Austal Philippines to do it since they also wanted to help the local community generate more jobs.
Austal, which has been operating since 2012, is located inside the West Industrial Park in Balamban, west of Cebu province.
It currently employs 900 Filipino engineers, design staff, skilled laborers, and production tradespersons.
With this development, the Australian company also showcased its expansion project at John Rothwell Assembly Bay.
Wayne Murray, Austal Philippines president, said this would be the area where they would use to build the six OPVs.
These OPVs that Austal is offering are a larger variant of the Cape-class patrol vessels used by the Royal Australian Navy and Australian Border Force.
One OPV takes two years to build.
Lorenzana said they are still finalizing the paper works for the deal.
These OPVs are part of the AFP’s Modernization Program.
