Royal Thai Navy Commander Visits Philippines

To strengthen the longstanding ties between the Philippines and Thailand, Admiral Khamtorn Pumhiran, Commander-In-Chief, Royal Thai Navy, is holding a goodwill visit on May 24 to 26, 2009. This goodwill visit ensures that the cooperative relationship of the Philippine Navy and its Thai counterpart, one of the most advanced navies in the Southeast Asia region, remains strong and firm.

Adm Khamtorn Pumhiran, CIC, RTN, is currently the commander of the Royal Thai Navy, one of the most modern navies in the Southeast Asian region. He assumed command of the Royal Thai Navy in 2008 and has implemented various projects that aims to further modernize the operating capabilities of the Royal Thai Navy. Among his planned acquisitions for the Royal Thai Navy in the near future are a number of anti-ship missiles to add an offensive capability to their fleet and new tactical transport helicopters to improve troop mobility.

Adm Khamtorn Pumhiran, CIC, RTN, and his party is accompanied by Commodore Eugenio C Velasco, AFP, as they attend various activities as part of his goodwill visit to the country. Some of these activities include the wreathlaying-ceremony at the Rizal Monument in Luneta, Manila; tour of Malacanang, Fort Santiago and Ayala Musuem. Other scheduled activities of Adm Khamtorn Pumhiran, CIC, RTN include a courtesy call and visit to Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez, Flag Officer-In-Command, Philippine Navy, Sec Gilberto C Teodoro Jr., DND, and Lt General Victor S Ibrado, Chief of Staff, AFP. Furthermore, he will also receive a command briefing at Headquarters Philippine Navy, Fort San Antonio Abad, Roxas Blvd, Manila, where he will be awarded with a Philippine Navy Honorary Command Badge.

This goodwill visit strengthens the ties that bind the Philippine Navy and the Royal Thai Navy to enhance the operational and security capabilities that exist between the two Asian countries. In addition, this goodwill visit also aims to improve maritime conditions and protect the vital interests of the two countries in the Southeast Asia region.

Philippine Navy Celebrates 111th Founding Anniversary

The Philippine Navy celebrates its 111^th Founding Anniversary with the theme: “Team Navy: A Vital Partner for Lasting Peace, Progress and Development of a Maritime Nation”. DND Sec Gilberto Teodoro Jr graces the event as the guest of honor and speaker.

The opening ceremony commences at 0700H with a simultaneous flag-raising, which will be attended by all units. Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez AFP, the Vice Commander, Philippine Navy, will deliver the anniversary message. Afterwards, there will Thanksgiving Mass and the awarding of Side Boys Honors to DND Sec Gilbert Teodoro Jr. Vice Admiral Ferdinand S Golez AFP, the Flag Officer-in-Command, Philippine Navy will also present his State of the Navy Address.

After the opening ceremony, a simultaneous blessing of the newly-repaired BRP Apolinario Mabini (PS 36), a Jacinto Class Patrol Vessel; three newly-acquired Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPACs), and Landing Craft Utility (LCU) AT-295, a newly-repaired auxiliary transport vessel, all of which will be open to the public for viewing. The three newly-acquired MPACs will be inaugurated where selected guests will be afforded the privilege of boarding the said vessels for a test cruise and capability demonstration.

Along with the simultaneous blessing of the naval ships mentioned, there will also be a demonstration of the Disaster Response and Rehabilitation Operations (DRRO) units to exhibit the readiness capability of the Philippine Navy during disasters and calamities.

The Philippine Navy’s 111^th Anniversary Celebration is on May 22, 2009 at HPN, Fort San Antonio Abad, Roxas Blvd, Manila.

RP-US Naval Construction Brigade Builds School For Local Townspeople

In order to promote goodwill amongst the local folk, the Naval Construction Brigade of the Philippine Navy and their American counterparts are building and repairing public school facilities this month as part of this year’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises.

The students and teachers of Look National High School in Barangay Look, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, are now using a newly-constructed single-room school house due to the joint efforts of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 of the US Navy and their Filipino counterparts, otherwise known as Seabees. In addition, the RP-US Seabees cooperated together to restore the school’s roofing to their original condition

The chosen beneficiary, Look National High School in Barangay Look, Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu, has a new single-room school house, thanks to the joint efforts of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133 of the US Navy and their Filipino counterparts, otherwise known as Seabees. In addition, the RP-US Seabees pooled their resources to restore the school’s roofing to their original condition.

This joint project by the Filipino and American Seabees improves the plight of more than 500 high school students and 12 teachers who are currently using insufficient facilities for their vastly increasing student population. Taking part in this project are 25 Philippine Navy Seabees from the Bonifacio Naval Station in Taguig City and 25 US Navy Seabees from their US Navy Base in Okinawa, Japan.

CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually between the Philippine Navy and the US Navy to enhance regional cooperation, promote understanding between participating military forces and continue to develop operational readiness of participating forces.

Philippine Navy Strategizes Future in Recent Seminar

The Philippine Navy recently concluded an Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy (AADS) Seminar Workshop at the Headquarters Philippine Navy, Roxas Boulevard, Manila last May 13 to 14, 2009. This activity strategizes the naval development that sets out the means and ways on how the Philippine Navy intends to evolve into the Navy of the future over the years.

With the theme: “Strategizing the Future Philippine Navy”, this seminar aims to define the future of the PN in the light of the country’s national interests at stake and the emerging maritime security environment. It also rationalizes the future of the PN force structure and its most effective force employment founded on the need to attain naval dominance in future battlespace. This also provides the necessary guidance to direct the efforts of the Navy to effectively undertake its directed mandate and how naval forces may be used to implement state domestic and foreign policies. In addition to these goals, the seminar also echoes the pronouncement by the AFP’s DSOM (Defense System of Management) to have a capability-based development of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a strategy-driven management and employment of the country’s military force.

Attending this event are members of Philippine maritime security agencies, academe and other interested groups and individuals. They shall draw upon the perspectives, experience and expertise through facilitated plenary and focused group discussions.

The speakers include USEC Antonio Santos Jr., DND Undersecretary for Defense Affairs; ASEC Augusto J Mier, NSC Asst. Dir Gen for Security Policy; Doctor Clarita Carlos PhD of UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, Director Hjayceelyn Quintana, from DFA’s Office of Asia Pacific Affairs and Honorable Florencio Fianza, Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes.

Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez AFP, the Vice Commander, Philippine Navy, culminates the seminar-workshop with a closing remark.

“We should develop the means and ordinance in drafting a naval strategy that can propel the Navy to its 2020 vision: a strong and credible navy our nation can be proud of,” Cortez said.

Cortez also said that there is going to be a number of difficulties and challenges ahead in transforming the Philippine Navy to be at par with our neighbors in the Southeast Asian region.

“In this regard, as we look forward to the Philippine Navy’s future, we must look with pride and confidence that the Navy will then be modernized and capable of ensured territorial defense operations,” Cortez added.

Philippine Navy Recovers 12 Year Old “Emong” Casualty, Two Others Still Missing

A twelve year old girl identified as Milagrosa Viliran from Vani, Pangasinan reportedly drowned at the vicinity of Catubig river, Bolinao, Pangasinan due to typhoon “Emong”. Her lifeless body was found by Philippine Navy search and rescue team together with the victim’s relatives on May 9, 2009 at around 11 o’clock in the morning. The victim’s body was turned over to the Philippine National Police by members of the Naval Task Group 11.1 of the Naval Education and Training Command. The navy also conducted search efforts for two fish cage caretakers reportedly missing on same day Saturday May 9, 2009 in Bolinao, Pangasinan. The fishermen are still nowhere to be found.


Philippine Navy personnel also assisted members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in packing of relief goods containing basic commodities such as rice and water intended for the affected populace of municipalities in Pangasinan. Philippine Navy units from Northern Luzon also sent on standby small ships, watercrafts, personnel and military trucks including Disaster Response Rescue and Naval Special Operations Group units to affected areas. Other units were also involved in clearing of typhoon debris. On Thursday, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. ordered military officials from Luzon specifically the Commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon to extend emergency assistance to residents who may be affected by typhoon “Emong”.


Similarly, on May 2, 2009, at around 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Naval Forces Southern Luzon sent personnel and military trucks to municipality of Camalig, Albay and other areas in Bicol region affected by typhoon “Dante”. Organic personnel of the Naval Forces Southern Luzon command were able to assist some ninety-five (95) residents of Camalig municipality and evacuated from Camalig Municipal Hall to Baligang Evacuation Center located at Baligang Elementary School. Likewise, residents from Barangay Suwa and Karingay of same municipality were also evacuated to North Central School Evacuation Center also of Camalig, Albay.