Milan, Dec, 13, 23013 – The Philippine Consulate General in Milan reported to the DFA that a group of Philippine Navy Officials, led by Rear Admiral Jaime S. Bernardino, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy, paid a courtesy call on Consul General Lourdes S. Tabamo on 3 December 2013.
Radm. Bernardino and his team of five officers were in Milan from 1-8 December for pre-delivery inspection of helicopters as part of the Philippine Government’s procurement under the Naval Helicopters Acquisition Project (NHAP). The helicopters were made and assembled at the production plants of Agusta Westland in Lonate, Pozzolo, Italy.
Agusta Westland (AW) is an Anglo-Italian helicopter company owned by Italy’s Finmeccanica, located 62 kilometers from Milan. Part of the agreement for the procurement purchase is the training of Philippine Navy helicopter pilots. Delivery of the helicopters will be by mid-December 2013 and they will be presented to President Benigno Aquino III during Armed Forces of the Philippines Day on 21 December 2013 at Camp Aguinaldo.
