After more than a month of journey, the Philippine's new warship has finally arrived, boosting the Navy's capabilities to safeguard the country's boundaries amid the ongoing territorial dispute with China over portions of the vast South China Sea.
"Para po siyang bagyo, nasa Philippine Area of Responsibility na po siya, and it will eventually end up in Subic tomorrow (Saturday)," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said at a press briefing Friday in announcing the new warship's arrival.
The Philippine Navy had earlier said that BRP Ramon Alcaraz, which has entered Philippine territory Friday morning, may be stationed in the disputed West Philippine Sea along with the Navy's other warship, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.
Quoting intelligence database IHS Jane's, the US Naval Institute had said that "both Hamilton-class cutters provide the [Philippine Navy] with much needed long-endurance and helicopter-capable capabilities" it needs to enforce territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea.
"Although both ships have limited military use in their present configuration, they provide Manila with patrol capacity that will help enforce its claims in the South China Sea," it said.
The Philippines is locked in a long-running dispute with China over portions of the area, where Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims.
Journey
BRP Alcaraz came from San Diego and passed through Hawaii, Guam, and on Friday entered the area of Casiguran town in Aurora province.
"Halos isang buwan pong bumiyahe ‘yung BRP Alcaraz. Umalis po ‘yan ng San Diego noong July 6 at parating po siya dito bukas," Valte said.
President Benigno Aquino III is expected to formally welcome the ship on Tuesday in Subic.
The BRP Ramon Alcaraz is named after Filipino naval hero Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, who gained distinction in World War II by shooting down three Japanese Zero fighters who tried to attack his ship.
"He continued---to his last days---to be an advocate for the equity and justice for Filipino veterans," said Valte of Commodore Alcaraz.
Upgrade
The warship is the second Hamilton-class cutter acquired by the Philippines under the Excess Defense Article and Military Assistance Program after BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF15).
The Philippine Embassy said the 378-foot-long warship was originally commissioned in 1967 and served in the US Coast Guard as the USCGC Dallas. It was decommissioned and turned over to the Philippines in May 2012.
The ship had been refurbished and refitted at a cost of $15.15 million since it was acquired by the Philippines.
"It’s an upgrade to what we have now, and it’s certainly welcome because it will be giving the Philippine Navy the much needed upgrades that they need," said Valte.
According to the US Coast Guard, these types of Hamilton Class cutters are powered by diesel engines and gas turbines, and have controllable-pitch propellers.
When they were deployed by the US Coast Guard, the cutters were equipped with one Mark 75 76-mm gun (anti-air capable), two 25-mm machine guns, one 20-mm Phalanx close-in weapons system (CIWS).
The cutter also has a helicopter flight deck, retractable hangar, and the facilities to support helicopter deployments.
In text messages to GMA News Online, Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Gerald Fabic said all the weapons were "stripped off" the warship except for the main gun 76-mm Oto Melara cannon.
"That's part of the agreement. The new weapons/armaments are provided by us," he said.
Test fire
During its voyage, the Navy successfully tested the Oto Melara cannon off the coast of Florida.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington said the ship's commander, Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, was satisfied with the results of the test-firing of the warship's main cannon.
"The step by step upgrading that we are getting in pursuing the modernization in the military has to be done also with an eye to the other programs that we have, given that we have limitations in budget. So it’s very calibrated, it’s very objective," said Valte.
Aside from the warship, Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Jose Luis Alano had said three new Augusta 109 helicopters will be coming in December to aide in the country’s maritime surveillance.
He said the helicopters will also be positioned in the West Philippine Sea.
(GMANetwork)
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