The United States government will give two Lockheed C-130 “Hercules” planes to the Philippines to augment the Philippine Air Force fleet of C-130 planes, as confirmed by the newly appointed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Lt. Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang on Thursday, July 24, 2014.
According to Lt. Gen. Catapang, the impending donation of the US Air Force will address the country’s humanitarian assistance disaster relief concerns. The announcement was made by the AFP chief during his visit to the 1st Air Division headquarters in Clark Field, Pampanga.
The United States military’s donation is part of the humanitarian effort and assistance to the Philippines. During the onslaught of the deadly typhoon Yolanda, the US led various international donors in helping the country to recover from the worst typhoon to hit the country.
The donation of the United States to the Philippines was offered by the Americans upon learning that President Aquino plans to acquure new cargo aircraft for the military. The country’s existing C-130 planes of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) figured heavily in the transport of relief goods for victims of super typhoon Yolanda.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) have only three C-130’s, according to some military analysts, the PAF should have at least nine C-130’s.
