Wednesday, July 7, 2010

CSAFP visits the Philippine Navy

BY: LTCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office


LTGEN RICARDO A DAVID JR AFP, the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines visited the Navy Headquarters on 06 July 2010. Instead of a ceremonial parade and review, the new AFP Chief opted to have a dialogue with the officers, enlisted personnel, and civilian employees of the Navy. The visit was capped with a meeting between REAR ADMIRAL DANILO M CORTEZ AFP, Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy and the top brass.

The Chief of Staff stressed in his first visit that the impending reshuffle in the AFP leadership is necessary in connection with the retirement of the three most senior military officers in the organization, GEN DELFIN N BANGIT, LTGEN RODRIGO MACLANG and VADM EMILIO C MARAYAG JR. He said that those who will be selected to occupy positions with greater responsibilities will be undergoing a selection process and will be recommended by the Boards of Generals.

LTGEN DAVID also said that we need to calibrate our campaign plan in order for the AFP to defeat the NPA and finish the ISO problem in the soonest time possible. In line with this, LTGEN DAVID also mentioned President Benigno C Aquino III and Secretary Voltaire Gazmin’s instructions to reexamine and reassess modernization so the Philippine Navy can also acquire new platforms capable of addressing and helping the PN accomplish its mission. He encouraged the judicious use of our resources, transparency, and accountability in management of our resources. By this we can also uplift the morale and welfare of our men by providing good housing benefits to them and attend to the claims of our retirees and the widows and dependents of our soldiers

LTGEN DAVID also mentioned the increase in pay of the members of the AFP effective this month so we need to bring it back by giving better services to our people. He also reiterated the no “Wang-Wang policy” of the President that as citizens we must go follow traffic regulations.

In closing, LTGEN DAVID urged the officers and personnel to work as a team, to have faith that the AFP is in the right direction. “Our cooperation is very essential in the realization of the vision for a better Armed Forces of the Philippines”.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

PRESS ADVISORY: Demonstration of NAG’s First Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

WHO: Naval Air Group (NAG)

WHAT: Demonstration of NAG’s First Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

WHEN: 07 July 2010 @ 9 a.m.

WHERE: Headquarters Naval Air Group, Naval Base Heracleo Alano, Sangley Point Cavite City.

DETAILS:

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) is equipped with cameras and other sophisticated avionics systems essential in its projected aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions. These UAVs will be the latest additions to the NAG inventory of air assets. It will make its debut flight on Wednesday, 07 July 2010 at 9 o’clock in the morning at Headquarters Naval Air Group located in Sangley Point, Cavite City. This is one of the highlights during the graduation rites of the Naval Aviation Officer’s Course (NAOC) Class 04 composed of 11 student officers.

Other highlights of the event include the presentation and helicopter demonstration of Aerospatial (AS) 355F2 and Bolkow (BO)-105CB from Manila Aerospace Products Trading (MAPTRA). These helicopters are projected to become part of the NAG’s inventory in the near future. Moreover, the “NAGBAYANIHAN 2010”, a fund-raising project initiated by the group to support peculiar requirements especially in their morale and welfare programs, shall be formally launched by the ceremonial casting of tickets by Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez AFP, the Philippine Navy Chief, who will grace the event as the keynote speaker and guest of honor.

The addition of these 11 new naval pilots will bolster the gap between the limited qualified personnel manning the forerunner of the Philippine Fleet in air operations. These new pilots have been equipped with the basic knowledge and skills, gearing them for the upcoming modernization projects that are being implemented by the Philippine Navy for the accomplishment of its mission.

Captain Alberto B Carlos PN(GSC), the Commander of the Naval Air Group will be glad to share the future plans for these 11 new pilots and the upgrade programs to watch out for in the NAG. He will be available for interview after the event.

Friends from the media are invited to cover the said event. Interested parties may coordinate with LTJG AUGUSTUS CAESAR B BERCADES PN at mobile telephone number 09217707807
and other details.

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Philippine Navy joins Mangrove Planting Activity in Navotas

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director,Naval Public Affairs Office









28 June 2010


Boy Scouts from the Tanza Elementary School in Navotas City join hands with the Philippine Navy Sailors and Marines during the mangrove-planting activity at Sitio Pulo, Brgy Tanza, Navotas City, 28 June 2010. Local residents and volunteers manifest the rebirth of their concern for the environment as spearheaded by the Philippine Navy by cleaning the shores and planting mangrove propagules as part of the “Bakawanan 2010”.

The mangrove-planting is part of the Navy’s continuing mangrove reforestation effort dubbed as “Bakawanan 2010”, launched in February this year. The move speaks of the Navy’s commitment in protecting and conserving our environment. Local officials from Navotas were also present during the activity in ensuring that environmental programs are sustained especially for the city of Navotas which is prone to floods during the rainy season.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Marines Capture Enemy Camp In Sulu; Leave 2 Enemies Dead in Encounter

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

24 June 2010

As the term of the outgoing Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ends Wednesday, 30 June, the skirmishes between government security forces and suspected renegade Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) joined by terrorist Abu Sayaf Group (ASG) members continue to rage in Sulu. At least two dead bodies of ASG members were recovered while four Marines from Marine Batallion Landing Teams 3 and 11 all of 2nd Marine Brigade were wounded during two tactical engagements between government forces under Joint Task Force Comet Commanding General BGen Rustico Guererro and the MNLF Group under Khabir Malik and the ASG under Yasser Igasan in 22 June 2010. Government forces regained the command and control facility of the lawless groups in Brgy Tuyang, Talipao, Sulu and a satellite camp also in Talipao. Two rifles—an M-14 and a Garand – and assorted ammunition were also recovered.

In his report to the Flag Officer in Command of the Philippine Navy RAdm Danilo Cortez, Bgen Guerrero declares that the operation was triggered by some combined partisan armed groups of MNLF and ASG disrupting the government’s development projects in southern Talipao. Helpless civilians, tired of the atrocities of the lawless groups, reported to the Marines that Malik and his cohorts have been impairing humanitarian missions in Talipao and Maimbung. On 15 May 2010, Malik’s group harassed the joint team of LGU officials and 2nd Marine Brigade who were assessing the socio-economic condition in southern Talipao and surveying the projected farm to market road that would link the isolated areas in Talipao and Maimbung.

BGen Rustico Guerrero, Commander of JTF Comet said emphatically that “we cannot afford to delay progress that is already long overdue. The standpoint of these lawless elements in resisting government-initiated socio-economic and humanitarian projects is anti-people and counter-progressive. Unless we will remove this disruptions from the equation, hope for peace and development in Sulu is futile”.


The military operations resulted to two major encounters. The first occurring at 10 a.m. in Brgy Mahala when Marines from MBLT-3 intercepted the evading heavily armed lawless elements under Malik and Jakari from Tuyang. The second encounter happened late in the afternoon when Marines from MBLT-11 chanced upon the reported encampment of combined forces of rogue MNLF under Nidzmi Jabar, Maas Ejan, and Jahid Susukan, and the ASG under Igasan in Talipao Proper, who were poised to block road development projects in southern Talipao.

COL Romeo Tanalgo, the Commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade for his part said that “as long as the group of Malik and Igasan roams in Southern Talipao, progress in the area will never set in. The quest for development for the people of Sulu has necessitated the conduct of these surgical, intelligence-driven military operations against these lawless elements.”

The Navy continues Fleet-Marine operations to flush the lawless groups from Sulu and also in Basilan and to decimate the dwindling number of the terrorist and bandit groups even as it intensified coordination with the local government on the other hand to address all fronts causing the continuing spate of atrocities in the island provinces. Unless the root causes of this lawlessness can be appropriately addressed, lasting peace, progress, and development in the region shall remain elusive.

Navy Honors Defense Sec Today

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office

23 June 2010

The Philippine Navy rendered a Testimonial Parade and Review at 8 this morning, 23 June 2010 for outgoing Defense Secretary, Hon Norberto B Gonzales, at the Naval Station Jose Francisco, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City. More than just a tradition, the gesture manifests the Navy’s homage to the Defense Chief who staunchly supports Navy modernization and its advocacy of a strong and credible navy in the service of our maritime nation.

Rear Admiral Danilo M Cortez, Acting Flag Officer In Command, Philippine Navy thanked the Defense Secretary for his legacy of making professional Sailors and Marines under his stint at the defense establishment. Calling Sec Gonzales a patriot, RADM Cortez cited the outgoing Secretary’s contribution to nation building giving particular attention to environmental protection. He later presented the memento to Sec Gonzales, a miniature Lantaka in a glass case. The Lantaka or the swivel cannons are the weapons mounted on Lakan’s ships called Caracoas during the battle against the Spaniards. These cannons were also commissioned by Rajah Sulayman on the fortification of Manila. Years later, Lantakas were used by Moros against the US troops during the Moro rebellion.

In his speech, Sec Gonzales declared that the AFP is the most stable institution that the country has today. That being so, the Philippine Navy in particular should make a bold stand and make its presence felt in the life of the nation. He also exhorted the soldiers to remain united, solid, and loyal to the Constitution. Sec Gonzales added that the AFP today occupies a bigger role in the society to help people who are in need. The AFP, particularly the Sailors and Marines have endeared itself to Filipinos by giving a helping hand in times of need, wherever help is needed.

“Climate change brings challenges today that not even scientists are sure of. We need an organization or institution that will be prepared when disasters strike, anywhere and anytime. With no other institution in the country today capable as the AFP, you have to be there for the people. To hold their hands and give assistance”.

The Defense Secretary also gave his assurance to the members of the Navy and other officers present from the Army and Air Force of his support to the AFP: “You have many friends in all corners of the society. We will be standing behind you. We will be there”.

PRESS ADVISORY

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office


WHO: Honorable Norberto B Gonzales, Secretary of National Defense

WHAT: Testimonial Parade and Review

WHEN: 23 June 2010 @ 8 a.m.

WHERE: Naval Station Jose Francisco Parade Ground, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City

DETAILS:

The Philippine Navy renders Testimonial Parade and Review in honor of Outgoing Secretary of the Department of National Defense Hon Norberto B Gonzales on 23 June 2010 at eight o’clock in the morning. More than just a tradition, the Philippine Navy in so doing manifests its homage to the Defense Chief who staunchly supports Navy modernization and its advocacy of a strong and credible navy in the service of our maritime nation.

Friends from the media are invited to cover the said event. Interested parties may coordinate with LCDR ARNOLD MARIE N OBRA PN at mobile telephone number 0917-258-62-47 for transportation arrangements and other details. A 25-seater Rosa Bus will be available and will be prepositioned on or about 6:30 a.m. beside the AFP Public Affairs Office, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo to depart 6:45 a.m. for the Philippine Marine Corps Headquarters. The passengers will be ferried back to Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo after the activity.

Navy Far Ahead in Terms of Good Governance

BY: LCOL EDGARD A AREVALO PN(M)
Director, Naval Public Affairs Office


“The Navy is modernizing; it is sailing very fast towards becoming a strong and credible that our maritime nation can be truly proud of. Because of my work in the Institute for Solidarity in Asia and for the Office of the President, I can tell you that the Navy is the most advanced in pursuit of good governance. The Navy is very far ahead,” a well-known and highly respected statesman said during a governance forum in the Philippine Navy (PN) Friday, 18 June 2010 at the Philippine Navy Officers Club, Naval Station Jose Francisco, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.



Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao is a Laureate Awardee of the international corporate governance network and a recipient of the 1992 Philippine Legion of Honor. In his capacity as Chair of Institute for Solidarity, he took occasion to make said declaration during the 5th Leg of the PN Governance Forum Series of 2010. And true to its commitment to excellence through good governance, the Navy invited Mr. David Michael V Padua, the Director of the Naga College Foundation’s Typhoon Preparedness Center.



During his talk, Mr. Padua who has earned the reputation as Typhoon specialist shared his insights, experience, and expertise on the topic “Typhoon Preparedness in Disaster Risk Governance”. He explained how he employed Typhoon 2000, the first web portal for tropical cyclones in the Philippines that he developed, in propagating information about typhoon information. He lectured “Typhoon 101” to deal on the basics of typhoons – their nature, behavior, characteristics, and how the mastery of these can save or mitigate loss of lives and destruction to properties.



The lecture was broadcast live to all six (6) naval forces in the country from Luzon to Mindanao via the Virtual Private Network – Video Tele-Conferencing (VPN-VTC). This is a telecommunication technology which allows two or more naval sites to interact via two—way video and audio transmissions simultaneously in real time. The VPN-VTC also allowed officers and personnel from said units to interact with the speaker.



This was the first time that the PN Governance Forum and a big gathering in the Navy employed this breakthrough video teleconferencing for the Team Navy. This same capability shall empower the Navy to deal with and respond to calls during disasters and calamities. Disaster response task units from the different naval forces will be aided with real time information of the emergencies as they evolve and deal with them accordingly.