The Philippine Air Force formally accepted the C-130H #5157 Tactical Transport Aircraft in a blessing ceremony on May 23, 2024 at Brigadier General Benito N Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu. Philippine Air Force/Facebook

MANILA – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has formally accepted the second C-130H tactical transport aircraft acquired by Manila from Washington, an Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) official said Wednesday. 

“With the delivery of this transport aircraft, the PAF now has five C-130s in its inventory that can be used for humanitarian, tactical, and strategic missions,” said AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a media briefing at the Philippine Army headquarters in Taguig City. 

The aircraft is one of the two C-130Hs granted by the United States government under the Excess Defense Article (EDA) Program in 2016. The first C-130H was delivered on January 29, 2021.

Philippine Air Force/Facebook

The latest C-130H (#5157) arrived on February 16, but the blessing ceremony was only held last May 23 at Brigadier General Benito N. Ebuen Air Base in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

“These heavy airlifters are significant in delivering relief goods and essential supplies, transporting troops and equipment, and lending support to communities in different areas around the country and even overseas,” the PAF said in its advisory.  

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