DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) Sec. Armin Luistro said yesterday he was surprised to learn the department owns three planes that are over 40 years old.
He said the Vietnam War-era Helio aircraft, for which DepEd is asking at least P4.6 million, were once used by the department under a grant to deliver books and other classroom materials to far-flung schools.
When the grant was finished, the airplanes were turned over to the department.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, who first brought up the idea of buying the planes, said the City Government’s plan of acquiring the planes from the DepEd was “not a done deal.”
He also said, contrary to popular belief, the planes are in good condition.
He added the City Government’s main problem with its plan of acquiring the planes is their maintenance could be very burdensome.
Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said last Monday he wants to put an end to the proposal to buy the three planes from DepEd after it received numerous criticisms.
He said he now leaves the proposal with the City Council, which is presided over by Young.
But Young, in an earlier statement, said there is a need to further study the proposal with the help of flying enthusiasts, who could help the council assess the feasibility of the purchase plan.
Luistro, who was in Cebu yesterday for several events, joked the planes are too old and he is not willing to fly any of them.
However, he said the planes will be auctioned off.
Young said his proposal helped publicize the planes since the City’s plan generated public opinion.