Noy leads detonation of 4,000 vintage bombs at Crow valley

By Aurea Calica

The Philippine Star, Sunday, March 6, 2011

President Aquino led yesterday the remote detonation of more than 4,000 World War II-era US bombs and other explosives and expressed relief that the American government finally granted his request for assistance in the cleanup of unexploded ordnance that had lain idle on Caballo Island near Corregidor.

The detonation was done in Crow Valley Range in Capas, Tarlac, as part of the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal exercise. US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. was also at the event.

Aquino had requested US President Barack Obama to help the Philippines in the cleanup effort when they met in New York in September during the United Nations General Assembly and in Yokohoma in November at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

The President pushed a button on a radio firing device, triggering a series of explosions that destroyed the vintage bombs.

The Philippine Navy said the safe transport of the unexploded ordnance from Caballo Island in Manila Bay and their detonation in Crow Valley through US help was a great achievement in itself.

Detonating the shells on Caballo Island, the Navy said, could have created “a destructive blast lethal to humans within a 32-kilometer radius and the catastrophic effect would have endangered nearby populated areas and ships plying Manila Bay and can be felt up to Sangley Point, the Philippine Navy Headquarters and the US embassy.”

Aquino said the danger posed by the unexploded shells had been one of the major problems faced by his administration.

“More than anything, I feel that this was really one of my first nightmares upon assuming office – that there was something left over from (the Second World War),” he said.

He commended the Armed Forces of the Philippines for the timely disposal of the explosives.

“The target date for completion was March 26. They managed to complete it on March 5, three weeks ahead of schedule. It was really quite impressive,” he said.

“The transport from Manila Bay to Subic to Tarlac also was an impressive operation – no untoward incidents, nobody was harmed, no injuries whatsoever,” he added.

The US government, according to the Philippine Navy, contracted a commercial landing craft tank that transported the explosives from Caballo Island to Crow Valley. The transport was completed on Feb. 6.

The exercise spearheaded by the Naval Special Operations Group of the Philippine Navy was the last phase of the Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations. This phase began on Feb. 9 in Crow Valley with EOD teams from the Army, Air Force, Philippine National Police and Coast Guard.

The Navy said an aggregate net explosive weight of 364,348 pounds had been safely detonated.

Navy activates 3 new offices

By Alexis Romero

The Philippine Star, Sunday, March 15, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The Navy activated yesterday three new offices including a body that will study proposals on how to tap the private sector to fund its modernization program.

Navy spokesman Capt. Giovanni Bacordo said activated were the Public-Private Partnership Office (PPPO), the Naval Human Rights Office, and the Philippine Navy Protocol Office.

Bacordo said the PPPO is in line with the government’s plan to lease some of its properties to support its capability upgrade program.

“The PPPO will study the proposals of the proponents. It will assess the plans related to the public-private partnership,” he told The STAR in a phone interview.

Bacordo said the PPPO will be led by the Navy vice commander, a post currently held in an acting capacity by Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Jose Luis Alano.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Modernization Act, which took effect in 1995, has given the military the opportunity to modernize in 15 years with a total fund of P331 billion.

More than 16 years have passed since the law was enacted but critics said the AFP is not even close to a modern battle force. The delay in the implementation of the law has been attributed to lack of state funds.

During his first State of the Nation Address last July, President Aquino said he is studying a proposal to lease military lots to support AFP modernization.

He said this will allow the military to procure equipment without bloating the deficit, which is expected to hit P290 billion this year.

At least six firms have expressed interest in the project, including Malaysian Resources Corp. Berhad, which submitted a proposal that would involve the lease of a 33-hectare property at Fort Bonifacio.

Navy data showed that out of the 53 patrol ships in the inventory, only 25 are operational. These patrol ships are of the average age of 36.4 years old. The bigger of these vessels like the minesweeper frigates and patrol craft escorts are 66 and 67 years, old respectively.

Only two of the seven Navy transport vessels are operational and are already 15 years old. The non-operational vessels are 64 years old.

On the other hand, only four of the 10 Navy auxiliary ships are operational. From among the 32 small crafts, 23 are operational and are of an average age of 21.3 years old.

The Navy also activated its Human Rights Office in compliance with the military’s policy to educate troops about existing humanitarian laws.

“The office aims to safeguard and ensure that human rights of the people and Navy personnel, as well as of its stakeholders are well-respected and preserved,” Bacordo said.

The office will be headed by Lt. Col. Jesulito Calimag.

On the other hand, the Protocol Office will be tasked “to preserve customs, traditions, and ideals” of the Navy.

The office, which aims to promote discipline among Navy personnel, will be led by Cmdr. Carlos Sabarre.

philstar.com

USS Blue Ridge Hosts Philippine Navy Engineers

By Brian A. Stone, Mass Communications Specialist 3rd Class
Japan Bases, Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Sailors aboard 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) brought sailors from the Philippine Navy into the command ship’s engineering department for a professional development exchange.

Engineers from Blue Ridge demonstrated the use of damage control equipment, U.S. Navy firefighting techniques and gave a tour of the ship's boiler’s and engine room.

Machinists Mate 2nd Class Pierre Angeles, a boiler technician of the watch, discussed U.S. Navy methods of conventional engine operation and maintenance, as well as discussing propulsion theory with hands-on demonstrations.

As a native of the city of Marikina, Philippines, knowing the culture and local language of Tagalog made it easier to interact with the tour guests and share experience, said Angeles.

“It feels great to see our counterparts here,” said Angeles. “We rarely have an opportunity to do something like this.”

Damage Controlman 2nd Class William Julian demonstrated the use of firefighting equipment in damage control drills to the visiting sailors.
“I think they learned a lot today,” said Julian. “I always think it’s good for to work with other militaries like this. It lets us understand each other better and get to know how they work in the same kind of environment.”

Ensign Ranier Ybañez, a Philippine Navy sailor assigned to Headquarters, Assault Craft Force, said he was particularly interested in learning about the way the U.S. Navy organizes damage control training.

“I’ve been learning a lot from the Americans,” said Ybañez. “We’ve learned a lot today that we can take back and teach to our troops on our own ships.”

Blue Ridge serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. CTF 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

Japanbases.com

P-NOY talks with soldiers

The Philippine Star, Tuesday, February 15, 2011

President Aquino talks with soldiers during a dialogue at Camp Teodulfo Bautista in Jolo, Sulu last Feb 11. after distributing food packs to 300 families displaced by flash floods in the province.