Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) — More Black Hawk helicopters to be acquired by the military will be used to bring vaccines to far-flung areas, the Department of National Defense said Saturday.
“They can and will be used in airlifting relief goods and first responders during disasters, as well as ferry supplies such as perishable vaccines and medicines to far-flung areas that are difficult to reach by land,” the DND said in a statement.
This assurance came as the country is expected to start its COVID-19 vaccine rollout this March.
The department also said the aircraft will also be used to evacuate people during emergencies.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the purchase of 15 additional Black Hawk helicopters to replace the Philippine Air Force’s old Huey choppers, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Thursday. Nograles noted the first Huey chopper of the country took flight 64 years ago.
The approval came after seven soldiers on board a Huey chopper died last month in a crash in Bukidnon. This was the fourth helicopter crash in the last six months, Nograles noted.
The air force received six of the 16 Black Hawk choppers late last year, the DND has said, adding they ordered these units in 2019. The rest of the purchase will be delivered early this year.
