Philippine Navy bent on buying submarine

Abs-Cbn News, Thursday, May 12, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy is planning to purchase its first ever submarine.

In a phone patch, Navy Philippine Fleet spokesman Lt. Rommel Rodriguez told reporters that experts are now meeting with international counterparts to assess the plan’s feasibility.

He said the Navy may acquire the submarine not later than 2020, depending on the political and administrative atmosphere.

"Right now, there are studies that are being undertaken. There are researches right now that involves submarine," Rodriguez said. He noted the study, conducted by the fleet’s office of plans and programs under Lt. Cmdr. Merlito Martinez, is upon orders from Rear Admiral Jose Luis Alano.

Rodriguez, however, noted that purchasing one would require billions of dollars.

"But since the Navy is geared towards Vision 2020, he wants to come up with a team, there is already a team that is conducting this studies and this studies will determine what capabilities do we need, where can we get this vessel or this submarine, what are the alternatives we have to be able to fund it, or how long will it take," he added.

He said the Navy needs to patrol the country’s territorial waters undetected, thus the need for a submarine.

"The amount may seem impossible for now but definitely we are taking a step forward because the President is (bent on) improving our naval capability. That is why, we are undertaking this study…We are taking a step forward, we are taking a step further," he said.

"It will be better (if we have a submarine) in patrolling our seas because when you have a submarine, it is physically invisible…We will be able to track those violating our maritime laws without them noticing us," said Rodriguez.

The assessment will first be presented to Navy officials before being submitted to the Armed Forces of the Philippine General Headquarters and the Department of National Defense.

Meanwhile, Philippine ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. is due to receive tomorrow a Hamilton class ship that the country had purchased from the US Coast Guard. The military spent P1.2 billion for it.

Rodriguez said a team from the Navy is now in California to undergo training to operate the ship. They will set sail in July and will probably arrive in August.

The ship may be deployed to Palawan, which should be patrolled because of oil interest in the area.

abs-cbnnews.com

Navy needs more officers

By Ria Mae Y. Booc

Philippine Star, Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CEBU, Philippines - The Naval Forces Central announced the Philippine Navy is recruiting more male officers for the year 2012.

The Philippine Navy needs at least 116 officers to be assigned in the different units.

Ensign Joseph Ison, Public Affairs Officer of NAVFORCEN said they are in need of new officers to replace those officers who will soon retire from their posts.

“We need new set of officers kay every year may magre-retire na kailangan mapalitan,” Ison told The FREEMAN.

This year, there are 150 trainees who will fill-in in the different units of the NAVFORCEN.

Commodore Cyril Carlos, commander of the NAVFORCEN, said the wide recruitment will be at the University of Cebu main campus along Sanciangko St. corner Juan Luna St., Cebu City starting today until May 16 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The applicant must be Filipino citizen, has good moral character, single, must be between 21 to 28 years old and a baccalaureate degree holder, preferably technical courses like Marine Engineering, Naval Architecture, Marine Transportation, Electronics and Communications Engineering, and other related courses.

He should also be at least 5’0 tall, physically and mentally fit, and must have no pending civil or criminal case.

Those who want to be enlisted are also advised to have at least 72 units on courses certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

For further queries, applicants may proceed to the Personnel Office, Headquarters Naval Forces Central, Barangay Looc, Lapu-Lapu City or call 341-5109 or 340-9399 local 3115.

Philstar.com

Disaster Response Operations mas pinalawak ng Navy

By Verlin Ruiz

Remate, Monday, May 9, 2011

Mas pinalawak ng Philippine Navy ang kanilang Disaster Response Operations sa Albay kasunod ng pananalanta ng bagyong Bebeng habang patuloy nitong sinusuyod ang kabuuan ng Luzon.

Ayon kay Navy Flag Officer in Command Vice Adm Alexander Pama, inutos niyang ilagay sa heightened alert ang mga Navy units na nakatalaga sa mga lugar na apektado ni Bebeng mula pa noong Sabado hanggaang ngayon araw na ito, Mayo 9.

Nabatid kay Pama na kanilang sinanay, inorganisa, at binigya ng gamit ang mga Disaster Response and Rescue Teams (DRRT) upang madaliang mabigyang tulong ang mga nasalanta kasabay ng pakikipagsangguni sa mga local Disaster Management Councils ng iba’t-ibang lalawigang apektado ng bagyo.

Habang palabas na ng bansa ang tropical storm Bebang ay nanatiling naka-alerto ang Naval Forces Central na nakabase sa Cebu, Naval Forces Northern Luzon na nakabase sa La Union, Naval Forces Southern Luzon na nakabase sa Quezon at and Fleet-Marine Ready Force (FMRF) na nakabase sa Cavite.

Ayon naman kay Commodore Joel E. Babas, Commander ng Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NFSL), nakapag-evacuate na ng 38 biktima ng bagyo kabilang na ang 18 bata mula sa mga binahang lugar sa Barangay Bulusan, Libon, Albay ang NFSL Disaster Response and Rescue Teams.

Nabatid na umabot na sa 10 ang bilang ng mga nasawi sa pananalasa ng bagyong Bebeng sa bansa at umakyat naman sa mahigit 83,000 libo ang apektadong residente.

Sa pinaka-latest na report ng National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) karamihan sa mga biktima ay mula sa Bicol region at silangang Visayas na biktima ng pagkalunod at landslides.

Umabot naman sa 16,408 pamilya o katumbas ng 83,561 katao ang apektado at karamihan ay nagsilikas.

Simula Linggo ng hapon, Mayo 8, ay umabot sa 4,705 na pasahero ang stranded sa mga pantalan at terminals sa Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Romblon at Lucena dahil sa sama ng panahon.

Remate.ph

Philippine Navy to hold maritime exercises in La Union

By Mario J. Mallari

The Daily Tribune, Sunday, May 8, 2011

To enhance the interoperability of its active and reserve forces particularly on humanitarian operations like disaster response, the Navy will hold maritime exercises starting tomorrow in La Union province.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama cited the importance of Exercise “Pagsasama” 2011 in enhancing the interoperability of Navy forces, both active and reserve, various facets of maritime service.

“This exercise is of utmost importance to the Navy and maritime stakeholder interests as it reinforces the bond between the active and reservist Navy personnel, as well as other stakeholders toward a stable and progressive maritime environment,” Pama said.

“What is most significant in this year’s exercise is the fact that the reservists are actively involved in all four phases of the exercise – from planning, to execution, to termination, and evaluation of the event,” Pama added.

The Navy tapped three ships and 135 active personnel, complemented by 631 Navy reservists, for the exercises. Pama will lead the send off of the participating troops tomorrow.

Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said that the objective of this year’s exercise is to enhance interoperability of the regular and reserve forces through joint maritime and civil military operations by engaging maritime stakeholders in accordance with the military’s internal peace and security plan “Bayanihan”.

The exercise “Pagsasama” combines training, surface warfare, at-sea events and humanitarian assistance, and disaster response events.

It also includes pre-exercise activities such as cross-training, subject matter on expert-exchange, tactical maneuvers, shipboard evolutions for summer shipboard training cadets, civil military operations, communications equipment installation aboard participating ships, and logistics-provisions fill-up.

Likewise, the activity will include shore-based cross training exercise, at-sea fleet training exercise, a marine affiliated reserve combat service support battalion exercise, and a humanitarian assistance and disaster response simulation exercise.

The Daily Tribune