THE Department of National Defense (DND) received on Thursday, February 10, 2022, four brand new Cessna 172S Skyhawk Trainer Aircraft that will help boost particularly the Navy’s capability in monitoring and safeguarding the country’s maritime territories and domain, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said.
The training aircraft, which has a total cost of $2.2 million, were acquired under US Foreign Military Financing Program.
Lorenzana led the turnover, blessing, and activation ceremony at Sangley Point, Cavite, with US Chargé d’affaires Heather Variava and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officials led by Chief-of-Staff General Andres Centino and Navy Flag Officer in Command Vadm Adeluis Bordado.
The four Cessna 172S Skyhawk Trainer Aircraft will be used by the Philippine Navy Naval Air Wing.
"As we rejoice over this milestone, we also recognized the productive and enduring relationship between the United States and the Philippines, which is the key to the success of this acquisition program," Lorenzana said.
“Your ardent support to the AFP modernization program is very much appreciated and valued not just by the defense and security sector but the entire Filipino nation as well. On our end, rest assured that we are committed more than ever to the alliance. We acknowledge our shared commitment to help preserve the peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region," he told the US officials. (SunStar Philippines)