THE EU on the EJKS

Super Pilipinas March 17, 2017

The recent development in the European Parliament about to penalize the Philippines of losing its zero Tariff privileges on  exports in the EU market is a  dire sign, and grim prospect for our export sector.

The size of the market of the EU is great and massive. We cannot just ignore our loss to it, as the country needs to be competitive in our international trade and exports where the economy of the country depends.

Instead of making headway abroad, we are losing this important market, and the increased tariff means less preference of our products in terms of cost and viability, compared to our competitors who had already edged the country in many fronts.

Though there are issued statements by the DTI  about the matter, still we have to consider that unemployment here in the country is rising and we are losing our manufacturing sectors and the revenue of the government is dwindling. It is difficult to increase taxes based on the same tax base, we have to enrich the business and commerce area/sector of the country rather than constricting it, and the EU market is a factor.

We have to sell our products abroad, and by growing our manufacturing in the country, it is imperative that we have to nurture the conditions and the conducive environment of our industries. Market is the vital output of our economy and all means must be done in research, studies, and negotiations in order to open new doors for our commerce instead of contraction.

The EU market must be broadened and conquered for more. we have to be effective marketing agents of our products abroad in conformance to the civilized conditions of humanity which is just normal and academic.

The reason of EJKs is solvable. It will only need effective and efficient criminal and justice system in the country which is already functional ever since. It is just needed to be refreshed to attain its goal.

We cannot kill people because of their crimes and errors, the same that we cannot get rid of our shadows as persons, it means, it is inherent, but it can be managed.

NO LAND FOR FOREIGNERS

Super Pilipinas March 16, 2017

It is agreeable to say that foreigners shall not own land in the country, for the major reason that they are prone to abuse of  our patrimonial heritage which is our birthright.

The high exchange rate of foreign currencies on the peso is a big disadvantage if the law or such measure is passed.

That even today, there are foreigners who were able to enjoy the  lands in the country by using Filipino dummies, using the advantage of marrying Filipinas,  just to make their residency and land ownership a reality in this scheme.

We don't like to return to the colonial age where racial discrimination and abuses were our daily life in those times, and to lose respect and dignity  by being poor and nothing in the society is a mark of slavery made stronger by the exploits of these strangers.

We saw the time when we were slaves by these foreign powers, and take advantage of our idleness and being lowly educated against them.

The rich are naturally powerful, and adding the pain when the rich are foreigners and they own lands?

Even in the current experience, there are handful of situations where the abuses and use of their power by these foreigners are glaring, and the situation is even aggravated by our  culture as filipinos as being fond of the white skins and practice the character of being submissive.


We cannot deny of this culture as we are easily delighted and blinded by the sight and company of these foreigners. We have a tendency to entertain them without reservations, that the plain fact that we if are appreciated by these whites made by their vile motives, we bow and honor to their prodding, and give in.

A kind of culture in us which is very dangerous if we let them own lands.

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Best Countries for Business, Philippines 82

This news item is encouraging, but we need to be skeptical in the sense that such a figure and a ranking will guide us better, the country, to a conditions that the figure is our reckoning for a greater future, and rise from poverty.

It is still bad but the results of hard works by some few good men, but most of all the private sectors who are the engine of this economy.

We need to aspire the best. The government must create climate investment that will be irresistible to everyone, that is to make everything conducive and and compared to perfect as possible.

It must be competitive and better than China in Cost-Labor factors. The taxes and regulations must be well suited and favorably nondiscriminatory, it must be rather healthy and supportive to the trade conditions affecting the industries.

We need to strengthen foreign as well as local investments that are dollar generating in order to make and sustain our economy to such conditions that it will defeat others in fields.

Profile

The economy has weathered global economic and financial downturns better than its regional peers due to minimal exposure to troubled international securities, lower dependence on exports, relatively resilient domestic consumption, large remittances from four- to five-million overseas Filipino workers, and a rapidly expanding business process outsourcing industry. The current account balance had recorded consecutive surpluses since 2003; international reserves are at record highs; the banking system is stable; and the stock market was Asia's second best-performer in 2012. Efforts to improve tax administration and expenditure management have helped ease the Philippines' tight fiscal situation and reduce high debt levels. The Philippines has received several credit rating upgrades on its sovereign debt, and has had little difficulty tapping domestic and international markets to finance its deficits. Economic growth in the Philippines averaged 4.5% during the MACAPAGAL-ARROYO administration, but poverty worsened during her term. Growth has accelerated under the AQUINO government, but with limited progress thus far in bringing down unemployment, which hovers around 7%, and improving the quality of jobs. Underemployment is nearly 20% and more than 40% of the employed are estimated to be working in the informal sector. The AQUINO administration has been working to boost the budgets for education, health, cash transfers to the poor, and other social spending programs, and is relying on the private sector to help fund major infrastructure projects under its Public-Private Partnership program. Long term challenges include reforming governance and the judicial system, building infrastructure, improving regulatory predictability, and the ease of doing business, attracting higher levels of local and foreign investments. The Philippine Constitution and the other laws continue to restrict foreign ownership in important activities/sectors (such as land ownership and public utilities).

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Lockheed Martin partners to build minesweepers for Taiwan's navy

In the same manner, these actions and plans of Taiwan to engage in Partnerships with the Lockheed Martin in many aspects of military hardwares, the philippine government also, in all its capacity and willingness to uplift the service of our military must undergo the same like Taiwan.

This piece of information is so envious but so challenging to our own capabilities. It will be unacceptable to  let hese things go without our attention to catch up with our neighbors.

Now is the time to have a strong resolve to modernize our military for the protection of our sovereignty.

The recent acquisitions is not bad, we need them at the start, but the greater need to do it is to be able to manufacture them in our own soil.

A consortium of Taiwan's largest private shipbuilder Ching Fu Shipbuilding, Lockheed Martin (LMT +0.9%) and Italian firm Intermarine have won a contract to supply six mine countermeasure vessels for Taiwan's navy.Lockheed will install and test the combat management systems for the ships.

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Lockheed Martin Partnership with Taiwan

 

This info is a reason to re-design our  plans to modernize the AFP.  The partnership of Taiwan and Lockheed is an indication that we can too pursue partnerships with them to increase our capabilities and in a way support our economy.

Though we are buying now our fleets outside, we must start the same internally the productions of our military hardwares with out delay. 

For the past 30 years, the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) has defended its skies with Lockheed Martin products starting with F-104 Starfighters and continuing today with the F-16A/B MLU Block 20 Fighting Falcon.

But, Lockheed Martin’s history with Taiwan goes beyond delivering advanced programs and capabilities.  The Corporation was also the first defense contractor to establish an Industrial Cooperation (IC) Agreement with Taiwan’s Industrial Development Bureau (IBD), providing new technologies, know-how, and capabilities to local industry.

Major programs in Taiwan include:

Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF)- Lockheed Martin helped design and produce Taiwan’s first and only fly-by-wire advanced fighter.

C-130H- Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force has purchased 20 C-130Hs from the United States Air Force.

P-3- The Taiwan Navy obtained 12 P-3C aircraft under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program in 2007 which were then modernized to provide an additional 15,000 flight hours.

Sharpshooter Targeting Pods and Pathfinder Navigation Pods- Taiwan’s F-16s utilize these systems to pinpoint targets in challenging conditions, including total darkness and poor weather.

Radars- From GE-592 solid-state 3D radar to the TPS-117, Lockheed Martin has a proud history of providing a variety of radars to Taiwan.

C4ISR and Command and Control Capabilities- Between upgrading command and control capabilities to providing C4ISR solutions, the Corporation supports program such as Automated Air Defense System.

Athena launch vehicle- This vehicle launched the ROCSAT-1 satellite aboard the Athena launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral.

Air Traffic Control- Lockheed Martin has provided the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) with a variety of systems and updates.

ROC Navy PFG-2 Frigate- Lockheed Martin has worked with the ROC Navy since 1986 building and operating Taiwan’s first indigenous warship.  From training support to air-to-air missiles, Lockheed Martin has been a proud partner for the PFG-2 Frigate.

M-TADS/PNVS (Arrowhead) is the advanced electro-optical fire control system that AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots use for safe flight in day, night, or bad weather missions.  M-TADS/PNVS advanced technology improves system performance by over 150 percent. Reliability increases more than 150 percent while maintenance actions decrease approximately 60 percent.  Over 1100 systems have been delivered.

The LONGBOW system is built by a Joint Venture of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. U.S. Army testing shows integrated capabilities enhance the Apache lethality fourfold and survivability sevenfold.  The LONGBOW Fire Control Radar (FCR) rapidly and automatically searches, detects, locates, classifies, and prioritizes multiple moving and stationary targets on land, water and in the air in all weather and battlefield conditions from standoff ranges.  High system reliability and two-level maintenance maximize operational availability and reduce support costs.

Air and Missile Defense- From the Hellfire II to PAC-3 to Javelin to Longbow, Lockheed Martin and Taiwan partner on a variety of missile defense programs.

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S. Korea Moving Closer To Lockheed F-16 Deal

This post is enough for us, the Philippines to think, and rethink our policies toward the AFP Modernization program. As we enter in the atmosphere of war, and the intense importance to protect our sovereignty, we need to to the same as Koreans are doing right now. We"ll have to build our capability the right way. We'll to make partnerships and manufacture the jets we need in the air to deter threats.
Now is the time. Look at Korea...

SEOUL AND WASHINGTON — South Korean officials are expected to approve a plan this week paving the way for Lockheed Martin to take over its F-16 upgrade program.

A Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) spokesman said his agency is scheduling a top decision-making council Nov. 19 to approve a plan to change the KF-16 partner company, following cancellation of a $1.7 billion BAE Systems contract to give 134 KF-16 fighters new avionics and radar systems.

“We believe the KF-16 upgrade project can’t go forward further under the existing contract,” he said. “That’s why we’re seeking to sign a fresh deal with a new partner.”

While unnamed, the partner is assured to be Lockheed, the original producer of the jets, which has been lobbying behind the scenes since the issues between DAPA and BAE first surfaced in October.

A pair of KF-16 C/D Block 52 jets has already been sent to a BAE factory in Fort Worth, Texas, to be equipped with an up-to-date mission computer, cockpit-display and other avionics systems. Phase 2 of the upgrades would have involved the integration of the Raytheon active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars, ALR-69A all-digital radar warning receiver and weapon systems integration.

A new Lockheed contract would likely fill similar needs, but may swap out Raytheon’s AESA for Northrop Grumman’s model. Lockheed selected Northrop to provide radars on its contract to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 fleet.

The news comes as BAE filed a lawsuit against DAPA to block what the company calls an unfair attempt by South Korea to claim $43 million in punitive costs.

Military officials in South Korea have claimed the US government added about US $470 million and BAE about $280 million in costs that were not part of the original agreement. South Korea’s DAPA is holding BAE responsible for those costs; BAE, in turn, argues that it had no say in those cost increases, instead putting the blame at the feet of the US government.

A BAE spokesman said the company “asked a US federal court to rule that it does not owe any monies in connection with the F-16 upgrade program,” adding, “we are unable to comment further.” The Pentagon declined to comment.

“Lockheed Martin has been contacted by the USG and we look forward to discussing the program with the USG and ROKAF officials at the appropriate time,” said Lockheed spokesman Mark Johnson. “Lockheed Martin values its relationships with its F-16 customers and stands ready to support their current and future needs.”

The DAPA spokesman also declined to comment on BAE’s lawsuit, but did note that further sanctions against the company are in play.

If DAPA concludes that the request for additional funds represents a breach of contract, it could confiscate the company’s bid bond and designate it an “undesired firm,” which would limit BAE’s ability to do defense deals in South Korea.

The Board of Audit and Inspection, the country’s watchdog agency, is scheduled to inspect the issues regarding the KF-16 contract with BAE in January. ■

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Partnership with Lockheed Martin

partnership with the Lockeed Martin is always possible to engage the country in the manufacture of fighter jets via the  resources and expertise of  this US company. As of today the Philippines has not even tried to make it feasible to do such as like that made by Korea.

In many facebook comments, and in the majority of our mindsets and thinking towards this means of going into manufacturing, there is always negativity and unproductive responses the possibility of having this goal. I hope the feats of Korea will makie us just envious to make us replicate the same now.

In the early 1990s, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) began to recognize the growing capability gap between their existing fast jet trainers and modern fighters. This drove the ROKAF to use their operational fighters to satisfy some of their fast jet training needs.

The ROKAF then began to look at fast jet trainers that were available on the market that could be used to minimize this capability and skills gap. They found that most lacked the modern cockpit, digital flight controls, aero performance and avionics needed to bridge the growing gap. The solution – developing the T-50 Multirole Trainer.

Dedicated To Providing the World’s Best Jet Trainer

The T-50 was developed by a world-class team. The Korean government is providing funding and oversight on the program. The Republic of Korea Air Force is responsible for program management, defining requirements and conducting the flight test program – and is the first user.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), prime contractor for the program, is responsible for aircraft design, integration and major component fabrication and will mate and deliver the T-50 from their factory in Sacheon.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, principal subcontractor and advisor to KAI for the development program, is responsible for the development of the wings, flight controls and avionics. Lockheed Martin is also partnered with KAI for long-term marketing the aircraft in the U.S. and internationally.

We also have a strong supplier team, which includes General Electric for the engine, another division of Lockheed Martin for the radar, Messier-Dowty, Honeywell and other leading aerospace companies.

This is a very strong team committed to the long-term success of the T-50 program.

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