Be quick with SOP: Navy

Published on: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 

Kota Kinabalu: The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) reiterated the need for a simplified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in order not to end up as a toothless tiger when pursuing suspected enemies in Malaysian waters.

Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said this is to enable the force to take immediate action to prevent intrusion by any potential enemy.

"There is a need to shoot at boats that flee after we spot and approach them in the nation's waters including off Sabah. That is why I made the shoot-on-sight proposal to the Federal Cabinet.

But it does not mean that we will shoot at them É just fire warning shots to scare and stop enemies from intruding our waters. We are not trying to pursue them, we just want to ask those who are suspicious.

But if they speed off, then obviously they are in the wrong because they should not be afraid if they were not doing anything offensive as we are very professional in discharging our duties and responsibilities," he said.

Aziz was speaking at a press conference after launching a four-day 14th Asia Pacific Submarine Conference attended by 19 countries, here, Tuesday. He was commenting on latest developments to the proposal to shoot-on-sight that was submitted to the Government.

In July, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail rejected the proposal on the grounds that Malaysia is not a military state. A total of 61 participants, namely experts in Submarine Escape and Rescue (SMER), are attending the conference themed ' Enhancing Interoperability for Safety'.

Aziz said he submitted the proposal to better the SOP but he understood that it would take time to be looked into.

"Now we have the SOPÉwe follow it and we do not shoot on sight. But at least, it has made our jobs easier as they (concerned authority) can now approve in a very short time which we will facilitate. Otherwise it will take a longer time," he said.

On the 10-hour curfew at the East Coast of Sabah, Aziz said it has made the force's work in safeguarding Sabah waters much easier as they are more focused on monitoring movements of boats during the curfew period.

"Since the curfew in Sabah's East Coast was enforced, it has facilitated our tasks in discharging duties and responsibilities as everyone has reason to stay out of the sea beyond the three nautical miles within the curfew periodÉno need to worry.

"But if suspects speed off when we approach them, then we will consider to fire shots. Nonetheless, we will use our own discretion in handling such situation," he said.

On talks that the Scorpene submarine at Naval Base in Sepanggar is "resting", Aziz denied such rumours, saying the submarine team has used the submarines in four operations.

"It is not true about what people say about the Scorpene submarine because our submarine teams have their own roles and tasks where we have involved the country's submarines in four on-going operations in Sabah and Sarawak.

"However, I cannot elaborate or relate to you what were the operations.

But believe me as the force is operating 24 hours seven days a week to safeguard the security of the nation's waters," he said.

To a question, Aziz said the existing submarines in the country are operating at optimum level or else the 18 participating foreign countries would not attend the conference here.

On the conference, he said Kota Kinabalu was chosen as the venue of the annual conference as it is the home of the Scorpene submarine.

"It is a privilege and a great honour for the RMN to host the annual conference as our submarine force is only five-years old since it was established in 2009.

"A lot will be shared and done in this conference which is not just in the aspect of defence but also doing research in the development of operating submarines," he said.

A Seawolf missile on its way to the target shortly after it was launched from KD Lekiu. Mindef picture.

The Exocet missile on the way to the target after the launch from KD Kasturi. Mindef picture.

The target exploding after being hit by the KH-31A missile fired from the Su-30MKM. Mindef picture.

Joint Black sea drills NATO/Ukraine.Ukrainian corvette "Ternopil" 1124ME project ship Nato name: Grisha V class. Anti-aircraft 9M - 33M "Osa" class missile launch.

Our ships too small to install VLS you mean?
On a side note, any latest news on the Malaysian Gowind frigate order? Construction still progressing as planned I hope? Fingers crossed we won't have another Lekiu-class fiasco.

Posted: 11 Sep 2014, 1515 hours (GMT +8)

Keel Laying for the RSN's First Littoral Mission Vessel


Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Yeng Kit (right) officiating at the Keel Laying Ceremony of the Republic of Singapore Navy's first Littoral Mission Vessel. On his right was Mr Ng Sing Chan, President of Singapore Technologies Marine Ltd.

The keel laying ceremony for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s first Littoral Mission Vessel (LMV) was held at Singapore Technologies Marine (ST Marine) in Jurong today. Permanent Secretary (Defence) Mr Chan Yeng Kit officiated at the ceremony. The keel laying of the first LMV marks another significant milestone for the RSN.

This LMV is the first of eight new LMVs to be built for the RSN by ST Marine, together with ST Electronics and DSO National Laboratories. The Defence Science and Technology Agency is the overall programme manager and systems integrator for the LMV programme.

The LMVs, to be equipped with advanced combat systems, will be highly versatile and capable of embarking on various mission modules to fulfil a full spectrum of operations. To enable enhanced operational efficiency with a leaner crew size, cutting-edge technologies and innovative concepts have been integrated into the design of the LMVs.

The LMVs will replace the existing Fearless-class Patrol Vessels, which have served the RSN well for close to 20 years. The addition of the LMVs to the RSN will enhance the capabilities of the RSN for the seaward defence of Singapore.

An AH-64E Apache Guardian from 1st Armed Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, 25th Infantry Division, and a Mi-35 Attack Helicopter from 31st Squadron, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat, take off for a flight together during an attack/reconnaissance training mission in Semarang, Indonesia, Sept. 9. The training is part of Garuda Shield 2014, where units from United States Army Pacific are focusing on peace support training capacity and stability operations with the TNI-AD. (U.S. Army photo courtesy of 25th Combat Aviation Brigade)

Published: Saturday September 13, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Saturday September 13, 2014 MYT 8:31:30 AM

Where M’sian Top Guns are trained

by lim wing hooi


Flight instructor Major Rose Adrianna checking a training plane with her student.
 
IT COULD be the look of an aerodynamic shape, or simply the engineering marvel that keeps a young boy’s eyes glued to the aircraft that speeds through the runway before lift-off.

But for air force Major Saravanasennan R. Veerasennan, who had his sight fixated on becoming a pilot, his interest was to fly the aircraft.

Today, not only is he a pilot, but he is also an instructor of military pilots.

“I have always been a passionate student of science, particularly aircraft and rocket-related technologies,” he told StarMetro.

Recollecting his younger days, he said he was selected as one of 60 cadet officer candidates after a stringent selection process of more than a thousand candidates to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) College in Alor Setar in 1997 as the first step to realise his dream.

After graduating with a diploma in aeronautical engineering, the next phase of challenge began where he put his knowledge to test and his hand to the yoke, or known as a control column used to piloting fixed-wing aircraft in the No 1 Flying Training Centre (1 FTC) or known as PULATIBANG 1 among the military fraternity.

Known as the “home where Malaysia’s military pilots are born”, the centre celebrated its golden jubilee on Aug 23.

Air Force Chief General Tan Sri Rodzali Daud congratulated the pioneers of the flying school who had grown it to what it was today.

“I am proud that the school has passed the test of time and raised to a respected level of capability, professionalism and readiness of what we witness today,” he said.

After relocating from Kuala Lumpur to the RMAF Base in Alor Setar in 1964, the early days of the centre was mainly staffed with officers seconded from the Royal Air Force from England.

Captain John F. Woodard (Rtd), the first commanding officer (CO) from July 1, 1964 to Jan 1, 1966, who was present at the event, shared his experience of Malaysian hospitality and its determined pioneers to build the centre.

“I remember being invited to the officers’ weddings. It is an eye opener to see the different cultures and how different races hold their weddings,” he said, proud to see how the place had grown.

Former RMAF chief air vice-marshal (Rtd) Tan Sri Sulaiman Sujak said he knew he was groomed to be a Malaysian air force chief.

“I need people to believe that they are in a professional air force, and are passionate that we will succeed,” he said in an interview.

Since the first Chipmunk training aircraft seconded from RAF, the RMAF has since purchased various training aircrafts, including the Piston Provost, Bulldog 100, Dove, Cessna 402B, Aerotiga MD3, Pilatus PC-7 to current model, the Pilatus PC-7 MK II.

Rodzali said there were plans to add five more planes by year-end.

The centre would also train more instructors locally.

“Since 1966, 1,200 pilots have graduated from here. This include pilots for other services, namely the army, navy and also pilots from foreign air forces such as Bangladeshi Air Force and Indonesian Air Force” said Rodzali.

The pilots would then further their training in different squadrons that operated various planes, from transport aircraft, fighters to helicopters.

Rodzali further added that the challenges for the air force in the 21st century were unpredictable and military campaigns demanded an agile air force that is capable of conducting a wide range of military operations in various dimensions, from peace time and conflict, local or abroad and conventional or unconventional warfare.

Current CO Colonel Yee Yit Hong said the instructors evaluated their students, not just from the flying perspective, but also their social and psychology among other aspects.

He added that knowledge, skill and attitude remained key elements of what made a professional RMAF pilot.

“We maintain stringent standards and at the same time do our best to understand the student as a whole and go all out to assist them to the best of our ability,” he concluded.

Indonesia's Pindad develops combat vehicle with Belgian company

Senin, 15 September 2014 19:51 WIB | 547 Views

Bandung, West Java (ANTARA News) - State-owned arms manufacturer PT Pindad has cooperated with Belgian Cockerill Maintenance & Ingeniere SA Defence (CMI) company to build tanks with weapon capacity ranging from 25- to 105-millimeter caliber.

"At the initial stage, we will produce 90- and 105-millimeter caliber torrent weapon system. This is a strategic cooperation not only for the development of Pindad as an assembler, but also for technology upgradation," stated the Pindad's president director Sudirman Said here on Monday.

The agreement was signed by Said and Vice President CMI James Claude in Pindad's panzer production hangar, Bandung.

Said noted that the cooperation was an effort to bring Pindad into the global weapon supply chain systems market with CMI.

"We are optimistic that this cooperation will be widely recognized in the global military circles," he noted. So far, Pindad has produced armoured personnel carrier in 6x6 class named Anoa, that also used by UN's Peacekeeping Force.

Both Pindad and CMI will also make more detailed cooperation partnership, one of which is by discussing the 90- and 105-millimeter caliber weaponry system.

"PINDAD will also have the opportunity to send their employees to learn at CMI weapons systems," Said added.

He said that this cooperation is also intended to increase Pindad's role in the defense industry.

"This cooperation is aimed at building Pindad's human resources and technology mastery to prepare them to enter the global supply chain in the world of defense industry," he added.

The executive vice president is optimistic that the cooperation with PINDAD will increase the potential of Indonesia in weapons system and support a strong defense system.

"We are pleased to sign the agreement, which is the beginning of a long-term cooperation in the assembly and technology of weapons systems that will benefit Pindad and Indonesian national security in the future," Claude added.

Earlier, Pindad had also cooperated with South African Rheinmetal Denel Munition in the development of large-caliber ammunition.

BHIC’s arm bags €16.96m navy contract

Business TimesBusiness Times – 16 hours ago

KUALA LUMPUR: Boustead Heavy Industries Corp Bhd’s (BHIC) unit, Contraves Advanced Devices Sdn Bhd, received a €16.96 million (RM70.71 million) contract from Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd to supply radar electronic support measure systems and related services for the Royal Malaysian Navy. The contract is to design, construct, equip, install, commission, integrate, test and deliver six units of second-generation patrol vessels with littoral combat capabilities. BHIC said its deal will have a positive impact on the earnings in financial year 2014 and thereafter.

Military prepares Hellfire missile foreign sales

September 18, 2014
By John Keller
Editor

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala., 18 Sept. 2014. U.S. Army anti-armor missile experts are ordering more than a thousand U.S.-made Hellfire II tactical missiles for the governments of Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $68.7 million contract this week to Hellfire Systems LLC in Orlando, Fla., to produce 1,361 Hellfire II missile models AGM-114R, AGM-114R-3, AGM-114P-4A, TGM M36E7, and ATM-114Q-6.

These missiles will be involved in U.S. foreign military sales to Iraq, Jordan, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The AGM-114R is the latest version of the Hellfire II missile. The others involved in this sale are earlier, less-capable models.

Hellfire System is a venture of the Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control segment in Orlando, Fla. At one time it involved the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis, but Boeing has not been involved in Hellfire missile development and production for several years, Lockheed Martin officials say.

The AGM-114R is the latest Hellfire variant, and is equipped with semi–active laser seekers to defeat many kinds of targets. The AGM-114R can be launched from several different kinds of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, surface ships, and military ground vehicles.

Hellfires also are the missile of choice for several kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the MQ-1B Predator, MQ-9 Reaper, and MQ-1C Grey Eagle. Eventually these missiles may arm U.S. military unmanned helicopters.

The AGM-114R Hellfire II Romeo RX missile will use a semi-active laser guidance system and an integrated blast fragmentation sleeve warhead to engage targets that previously needed several Hellfire variants to destroy.

These missiles can seek out their targets autonomously or with designation from remote laser designators. The missile has a three–axis inertial measurement unit to enable it to attack targets from the side and behind.

The AGM-114R can be launched from higher altitudes than previous variants because of its enhanced guidance and navigation capabilities. With its multi–purpose warhead, the missile can destroy hard, soft, and enclosed targets.

Originally developed as an anti-tank missile for the Army's AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the Hellfire missile has become one of the most versatile munitions in the U.S. arsenal. It can launch from fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, UAVs, surface vessels, and land-based sites.

The AGM-114R will be guided by homing in on the reflected light of a laser designator. Other versions of the Hellfire are radar-guided fire-and-forget weapons. The Hellfire missile weighs 106 pounds, and has high-explosive variants designed to destroy tanks and other armored vehicles, and blast fragmentation versions designed to destroy trucks, antenna sites, concentrations of enemy troops, and other soft targets.

Development of the AGM-114R Hellfire missile became necessary after the Pentagon cancelled the Joint Common Missile (JCM) project, which was to replace Hellfire, as well as the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missile.

On this contract Hellfire Systems LLC will do the work at the Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control segment in Orlando, Fla., and should be finished by November 2016.

Fuhh....Stryker rupanya.....ingatkan AV8 tadi....

The Army in the Pacific is starting a new deployment concept this week that sends soldiers out into the region for multiple exercises and longer stays in foreign countries that are intended to reassure partner nations and develop closer relationships as the United States continues its “rebalance” to the Pacific.

Developed out of Fort Shafter, “Pacific Pathways” also is a new Army strategy to stay relevant as large occupational land forces that are costly and slow to mobilize become less viable.

About 550 soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team out of Washington state and supporting units are heading to Indonesia for the exercise Garuda Shield in the first iteration of Pacific Pathways, the Army said.

The soldiers will utilize nine Stryker armored vehicles and eight helicopters.

About 500 other 2nd Stryker and supporting soldiers will head to Malaysia with 11 Stryker vehicles and three helicopters for the exercise Keris Strike, which overlaps with the Indonesia training.

The first group of 550 soldiers and others will then leapfrog over to Japan for Orient Shield, the Army said.

http://japan.stripes.com/news/army-pacific...tyle-deployment

Saab offers "100% technology transfer" in bid to secure TNI Gripen deal

Jon Grevatt, Bangkok - IHS Jane's Defence Industry
17 September 2014

Saab is offering "100% technology transfer" in its bid to supply the Indonesian Air Force (Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Udara - TNI-AU) with its JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft, a company executive has told IHS Jane's .

The TNI-AU is understood to be considering the Gripen along with other fighter aircraft, including the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet and the Sukhoi Su-35, to replace its ageing Northrop F-5E Tiger II fleet before the end of the decade.

The programme will procure 16 aircraft and is projected to be valued at more than USD1 billion.

Speaking to IHS Jane's on 15 September, Kaj Rosander, head of marketing and sales in Saab Asia Pacific, said the company had a "number of discussions" with the TNI-AU and the Indonesian government in which Saab had "shared the capabilities" of the Gripen E, the single-seat derivative of the two-seat JAS 39 Gripen NG.

its more that FTA was forced upon us..
Indon can get 100% ToT, kita dapat 10% ToT, at best..

According to Indonesian Aviation magazine that publish an article of "VERY INTERESTING PACKAGES OF EUROFIGHTER TYPHOON" :
- Transfer of technology to Indonesian aerospace PT. DI to assemble, modification and learn about Typhoon technology.
-  No difference between British version and Export version
-  Allow the Indonesian engineer to learn the Eurofighter engines and AESA radar to applicate in KFX/IFX programme.

source

No, Malaysia Would Never Host a US Spy Base

The notion that Malaysia may offer the U.S. Navy a base for surveillance aircraft is laughable.

By Dzirhan Mahadzir
September 19, 2014

Editor’s Note: This piece originally appeared on the Center for International Maritime Security’s Next War blog, and is reprinted here with CIMSEC’s kind permission.

There’s been a fair amount of reports on U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert’s supposed remarks that Malaysia is offering a base in east Malaysia for U.S. Navy P-8s. Despite the U.S. Navy clarifying his remarks and claiming he’d been quoted out of a context, the “base offer” was too good a story for the U.S. media to pass on. Unfortunately, many of the reports miss the dynamics of how U.S.-Malaysia military cooperation actually works, as anyone familiar with Malaysian security policy would find the notion of Malaysia allowing the United States to regularly stage surveillance missions from its airbases laughable.

The fact is, except under the ambit of the Five Power Defense Arrangement, all of Malaysia’s foreign military cooperation activities must be agreed to on a case-by-case basis. That is, at a minimum, the United States would have to ask for Malaysia’s approval for every deployment. It might be hard for anyone outside of defense circles in Malaysia to accept, but Malaysia’s military cooperation activities are conducted on an ad-hoc basis and often based on opportunities provided by a deployment that takes place close to or in the vicinity of Malaysia.

For instance, last year when the U.S.S. Boxer was transiting through the Malacca Straits with no engagement activity or exercises with Malaysia planned, the United States offered to fly Malaysian military and defense officials via V-22 Ospreys to the ship to see U.S. Marines capabilities onboard and engage in briefings and discussions, an offer which Malaysia accepted. Similarly, in June last year, when the French LPD F.N.S. Tonnerre was on a deployment tour in the region, France put in a request to Malaysia’s Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) for an amphibious landing exercise but JFHQ declined, saying it was tied up with the ongoing CARAT 2013 exercise with the United States. It did refer the French to the Malaysian Army Headquarters who could accommodate the request.

These two examples illustrate that Malaysia’s military cooperation activities with other countries are often on an ad-hoc basis, rather than occurring as part of a highly formalized arrangement. As Malaysia wishes to preserve its ambit of neutrality, any activity has to be offered in such a manner so that Malaysia can decide whether to allow it based on its own merits and whether the timing is suitable – for example, requests during Ramadan or the Eid Fitri celebration period are typically denied.

Indeed, at the Asian Naval Warfare Conference in Kuala Lumpur on September 10, which was open to the media although very little media showed up, Vice Adm. Robert Thomas, Commander U.S. 7th Fleet, directly addressed the matter:

“There’s no formal treaty with respect to Malaysia as far as military operations. In fact, we conduct operations with the Malaysian military on a case-by-case basis, when permission is granted. We have a lot of subject matter exchanges including in the maritime patrol reconnaissance aircraft area so we’re doing more and more work in that regard, but that is not a formal policy document that says ‘hey, this is what we’re going to do and this is when we’re going to do it,’ this is really Admiral Kamarul [Vice Admiral Kamarulzaman, Deputy Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Chief who was the senior RMN officer at the conference] and Robert Thomas saying, ‘hey what about this,’ and ‘can we get diplomatic clearance and permission to go work these exercises and this training.’”

And it’s not as if P-8s, or for that matter P-3 Orions, have not flown in and out of MAF bases in East Malaysia in the past. Check out any Malaysian planespotting forum and you’ll see plenty of evidence, all related to cooperation and exercises between Malaysia and the United States. Part of the reason the United States is keen to have the P-8 Poseidon go to Malaysia is to highlight its capabilities to the Malaysian military given that Malaysia has long had an outstanding requirement for a long-range maritime patrol aircraft, and the P-8 could fit that requirement.

Which raises another point, the ready assumption that anything to do with U.S. surveillance aircraft in East Malaysia has to be in regard to China. The fact is that Malaysia also has concerns about the state of security on the east coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Indeed, since last year’s incursion by Sulu separatists, the region has also been plagued by cross-border kidnappings by various groups from the Philippines. In that regard, a P-8 or P-3 going to East Malaysia may not necessarily conduct surveillance in an area where China operates. It’s not surprising that when the United States offers a chance for Malaysian personnel to fly aboard and see the P-8’s capabilities, Malaysia would opt to use the familiarization flight to gauge how it performs in an area where the country expects to do the bulk of its maritime surveillance mission.

Still, for some in the media, it makes for a nice story to say that Malaysia is offering the United States a base to stage P-8 flights as an attempt to counterbalance China, partly in response to Chinese maneuvers near East Malaysia and its waters. But the reality is that the Malaysian government hasn’t much changed its position that it can resolve issues with China diplomatically. The New York Times report quoting “a senior Asian diplomat” saying that Malaysia has been in discussion with the United States on such has to be considered in context. There are some Asian countries that might see it as advantageous to draw a wedge between Malaysia and China, and thus might deceive the media for such a purpose. It also illustrates the danger of relying on a single source to determine the truth.

The Malaysian government is very much aware of how stretched the Malaysian Armed Forces are in covering the area in question. Allowing the United States to set up in East Malaysia for the purpose of monitoring China would only provoke the Chinese to step up their activities in the area, further taxing the RMN and RMAF, which makes the move counter-productive, without mentioning the (domestic) political infeasibility. Unfortunately this type of context is seldom visible to those writing from Washington or New York, leading to narratives that are displaced from reality.

Indonesia cuts steel on second SIGMA frigate

Ridzwan Rahmat, Singapore - IHS Jane's Navy International
18 September 2014
   
Indonesian state-owned shipbuilder PT PAL held a steel-cutting ceremony for the Indonesian Navy's (Tentara Nasional Indonesia-Angkatan Laut's/TNI-AL's) second SIGMA 10514 Perusak Kawal Rudal (PKR) guided-missile frigate in Surabaya, Indonesia, on 17 September.

The vessel is being built jointly with Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding (DSNS) under a contract signed in 2013 by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence. The contract follows a prior tender, signed in June 2012, to construct the first ship.

Both frigates are being assembled from six major block modules in an arrangement aimed at transferring naval shipbuilding expertise from DSNS to PT PAL. In the first vessel, four modules were built by PT PAL and two supplied by DSNS.

Philippines eyed as aircraft parts hub

September 18, 2014 7:58 pm

The Philippine government and the French aircraft firm, Airbus, are working to promote the Philippines as a hub for aircraft parts in the region, Malacanang said on Thursday.

The Palace said President Benigno Aquino 3rd sat down with leading French corporations with significant investments in the Philippines during his visit in Paris, France.

Airbus, it was learned, has been assisting the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in making the country the center of aircraft parts manufacturing and for maintenance, repair and overhaul services.

Aquino met with Pierre Jaffre, executive vice president for Asia Pacific, and Pierre Lanore, vice president for Philippines Airbus, and the two businessmen also pledged to continue to participate in the modernization program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The Airbus officials also offered newly designed aircraft for disaster management.

The President also met with Schneider Electric, which offered several innovations in energy conservation that could substantially cut power consumption, along with other energy solutions for various major power plant projects all over the Philippines.

Schneider has been in the Philippines since 1995, with four manufacturing facilities employing nearly 3,000 workers. It also operates a shared services center for human resources and finance.

Another company, Teleperformance, a leader in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, also met with Aquino.

Daniel Julien, board chairman and founder of Teleperformance, told the President his company plans to double its existing workforce of 26,000 to 50,000, saying the Philippines is a strategic location for the companies they serve in the US, the UK and Canada.

Julien commended the Filipino workers of Teleperformace, describing them as “in-country heroes” on account of their exemplary work ethics and well-developed skills.

JOEL SY EGCO