PH Navy now capable of deploying ships overseas if needed

“It provided the Navy both the competence and confidence to project a force package oversees. With an operational readiness that can be beneficial to our OFWs should the need arise,” Zata said. (Photo: PHILIPPINE NAVY/Facebook)

MANILA — The recently-concluded “Rim of the Pacific” (RIMPAC) exercises has given the Philippine Navy (PN) the capability to deploy its ships overseas if needed.

This, according to Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata when asked on the lessons learned by the Filipino naval personnel in the above-mentioned maneuvers.

“It provided the Navy both the competence and confidence to project a force package oversees. With an operational readiness that can be beneficial to our OFWs should the need arise,” Zata said.

RIMPAC also validated the PN’s readiness and competence on a host of requirements for naval operations and the need to revise and develop new procedures to better improve naval operations especially with the coming new and more technologically updated weapons and systems, he added.

The PN deployed the strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602) and frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17), an AgustaWestland naval helicopter and 700 sailors and marines for the exercises from June 27 to August 2.

The assets participated in several RIMPAC exercises that include helicopter cross-decking, live-fire exercises, a special operations training, ground-air-integration, and replenishment-at-sea among others.

“The Philippine Navy’s participation to RIMPAC 2018 trumpets the Command’s commitment in promoting multilateral cooperation to strengthen relationship and cooperation among participating navies of the world,” he earlier said.