Newest Navy Ship enters P.A.R.

By Elena Aben
Manila Bulletin, Thursday, August 18, 2011

The Philippine Navy's newest and biggest ship, Hamilton cutter class BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, has entered the country's waters, a Navy spokesman announced yesterday Lt.Col Omar Tonsay, Navy spokesman, said the PN frigate BRP Gregorio del Pilar, manned by 13 officers and 82 enlisted personnel under the command pf Capt.Alberto A. Cruz, entered the Philippine area of reponsibility at around 1 p.m. yesterday. The ship is expected to enetr to enter the Manila Bay on August 21."As a multi-mission vessel, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar will be primarily important for the Philippine Navy's maritime security and sovereignity patrols especially upon its deployment at the Malampaya projects west of Palawan,"said Tonsay.

Navy chief: 95 sailors to man new warship from US

GMA News, Monday, July 18, 2011

At least 95 Filipino sailors will man the Philippines' newest and biggest warship "BRP Gregorio del Pilar" in its voyage from the United States to the Philippines.

In a radio interview on dzRH radio on Monday, Navy flag officer-in-command Rear Admiral Alexander Pama said the ship will begin its trip to the Philippines on Monday (US time).

"Meron tayong 95 matipunong mandaragat na sasakay sa barko. Sila mismo maglalayag nito magiging tripulante ng barkong ito," said Pama, who is in San Francisco.

He said there will be a send-off ceremony on Monday (US time) before the ship leaves port for the Philippines.

Pama expressed confidence Filipinos will be satisfied with the capabilities of the ship, which was a former Hamilton-class US Coast Guard cutter.

The Philippines formally acquired the cutter on May 13.

"Mukhang masisiyahan ang ating kababayan pagdating diyan. Naka-schedule ito maglayag bukas. Harinawa tuloy-tuloy ito, bukas ating ise-sendoff ito para sila makalayag papunta sa Pilipinas," Pama said.

On Sunday, Malacañang said the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, which will patrol areas near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), will not likely to agitate China.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said President Benigno Aquino III had told the Philippine Navy that the government will upgrade the equipment of the Armed Forces to boost its capability to protect the country’s territory.

The ship will be used to ensure maritime security of the Malampaya Project, which is in the west of Palawan in the waters near the disputed Spratly Islands. - VVP, GMA News

www.gmanews.tv

Newly acquired Navy vessel from US arriving

By Jaime Laude
Philippine Star, Sunday, July 17, 2011

Manila, Philippines - The Philippine Navy’s newly acquired cutter from the United States (US) Coast Guard is arriving in the country in three weeks’ time and after some refinements will be immediately deployed to secure the country’s territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea. Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said yesterday.

Pama flew to California yesterday in time for tomorrow’s sendoff of BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) for a long voyage home, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam for replenishment.

“The sendoff will signal the last activities for BRP Gregorio del Pilar in the US and to start its journey to the Philippines,” Pama said.

He said Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr., US Coast Guard Pacific Area and Defense Force West commander Vice Admiral Manson Brown and Philippine defense and Armed Forces attaché to the US Navy Capt. Antonio Habulan Jr. will be around during the official sendoff ceremony.

Aside from the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the government is also shopping for additional military assets in the US in line with the capability upgrade program of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), to be used for its territorial defense amid the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea brought about overlapping claims over the Spratlys.

A former USCG cutter, the Hamilton Class vessel, which is also classified as Weather High Endurance Cutter (WHEC), will first undergo refinements in its weapon and electronic systems upon its arrival before its deployment for maritime security operations in Palawan.

To accommodate the newly acquired PF-15, Pama said the Navy is putting up a naval base in Hulugan Bay fronting the West Philippine Sea, which will serve at the vessel’s homeport.

The scheduled deployment of PF-15 in the West Philippine Sea is expected to further boost the Navy’s platform in the hotly contested region to include maritime security operations for the Malampaya project west of Palawan.

“The Philippine Navy intends to use this multi-mission vessel for operations such as maritime security patrols and search and rescue. But more importantly, it will be deployed to aid in the maritime security of the Malampaya project,”Pama said.

While PF-15 is classified as a WHEC in the US, the Philippine Navy has refitted and refurbished it as a surface combatant ship with a type code of “P” for patrol and is further classified as a frigate with a type code of “F,” hence the designation of “PF.”

The vessel is powered by combined diesel engines and gas turbines and is equipped with a helicopter flight deck, a retractable hangar, and facilities to support helicopter operations.

With a total length of 378 feet, 42 inches beam, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar will be the Navy’s flagship.

philstar.com