The Department of National Defense said on Saturday that additional Black Hawk helicopters will be acquired by the military to be used for the delivery of vaccines to far-flung areas.
“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.
This promise came as the Philippines is expected to start its coronavirus vaccine rollout this March.
The DND also claimed that the aircraft will be used to evacuate people in times of emergencies.
Cabinet Secretary Nograles said on Thursday that President Duterte previously approved the purchase of 15 more Black Hawk helicopters to replace the Philippine Air Force’s old Huey choppers.
The approval came after 7 soldiers died on board a Huey chopper last month in a crash in Bukidnon. This was the fourth helicopter crash in the last six months, Nograles said.
