US, Philippines to hold joint navy exercise

By Bong Garcia

Sun Star, Sunday, June 26, 2011

ALL is set for the holding of the 11-day joint Philippines and United States Navy exercise, a top Philippine Navy official announced Sunday.

The bilateral exercise dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) 2011 will be held from June 28 until July 8, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and along the Sulu Sea.

The participants are the Naval Forces West (NFW) of the Philippine Navy (PN) based in Palawan and the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy (USN).

NFW chief Commodore Edgardo Tamayo said the 11-day joint naval exercise is part of the Philippines-US Defense Treaty of 1951 that is being executed every year.

Tamayo said the main purpose of the activity is to strengthen the ties between the two Navies through exchanges of knowledge and skills in the field of navigation and naval operations, particularly maritime defense, port security, resource protection and disaster response.

Highlights of Carat 2011 are the personnel exchange between the two ships for the effective commutation of information between the PN and USN; friendship games; and PN-hosted and USN-hosted reception dinners to further strengthen the relationship between the two parties involved.

Civil Military Operations are also scheduled to reach out to the residents of Palawan, particularly Medical and Dental Civic Action at Barangay Tagabinet; Engineering Civic Action at Barangay Mangingisda Elementary School; and Community Relation Activity at Tagburos Elementary School and Gregorio Oquendo Memorial Elementary School.

Tamayo said that a community service and public affairs activity is also set in the form of free music lessons at Palawan State University Laboratory High School and Palawan National School.

To cap off the activity, Tamayo said the Philippine Marine Corps and the US 7th Fleet Band will hold a free band concert at the Puerto Princesa City Amphitheatre and at the NCCC Mall.

Tamayo said that members of the US Navy are also scheduled to visit the Puerto Princesa Underground River, the city’s biggest and most popular tourist destination.

“This is an opportunity for the Naval Forces West, the city of Puerto Princesa and the province of Palawan to showcase its beauty and its natural resources,” Tamayo said.

“The exercise will certainly prove its worth as all aspects of naval operations are being integrated as the two navies further their interoperability,” he added.

Tamayo added that he is confident that Carat Exercise 2011 in Puerto Princesa City will be a success.

sunstar.com.ph

Mudslide

By Art Son

Abante, Sunday, June 26, 2011

Tumulong na ang mga kagawad ng Philippine Navy sa pag-aayos ng mga kabahayang nawasak ng mudslide sa Dulong Bayan, San Mateo Rizal dulot ng pananalasa ng bagyong ‘Falcon’.

abante-tonite.com

Missing fisherman in Catanduanes found in Samar

Abs-cbn News, Saturday, Juy 25, 2011

MANILA, Philippines – One of 10 fishermen who went missing in Catanduanes for 4 days at the height of tropical storm “Falcon” was found Saturday in northern Samar.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Executive Director Benito Ramos said the fisherman, identified as Prospero Tabios, was found alive after being swept ashore.

Tabios was rushed to the hospital and is under the care of the Department of Health.

“Na-recover siya at kasalukayan siyang ginagamot. Apat na araw siyang hindi nakakain at nakainom. Masyadong maalat ang tubig dagat,” said Ramos.

Ramos said the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard are now scouring Bicol's seas in efforts to find the other missing fishermen.

Ramos said that with the recovery of Tabios, the NDRRMC remains hopeful that the 9 fishermen still missing are alive.

abs-cbnnews.com

Retired general recalled to continue as head of UN team

By Victor Reyes

Malaya, Friday, June 24, 2011

PRESIDENT Aquino has called back to active duty Maj. Gen. Natalio Ecarma III so he can continue serving as commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observers Force (UNDOF) and as head of the Philippine mission in Golan Heights.

The UN requested that his tour of duty be extended.

Ecarma, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981, reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 on June 3.

He was called back to active service as a "naval reservist," said 1Lt. Cherry Tindog, Marines information officer.

Tindog noted it is "very rare" that a retired officer is called back to active duty.

Ecarma became UNDOF commander and Philippine head of mission at the Golan Heights in March last year, vice Austrian Maj. Gen. Wolfgang Jilke.

UNDOF was established in 1974 to oversee the implementation of the disengagement or cease-fire agreement forged by the then warring Syrian and Israeli forces. UNDOF is composed of over a thousand troops Austria, Canada, Croatia, India, Japan and Philippines.

Tindog said that before Ecarma reached the age of 56, the UN asked the Philippine government if it could extend Ecarma’s tour.

Under the law, all military officers, except the AFP chief whose term can be extended, should retire at the age of 56.

Officers who retire from the service automatically become members of the reserve force, said Tindog.

Tindog also said the UN request for the Philippines to extend Ecarma’s tour of duty should be a viewed as a "national pride."

"It seemed that world leaders consider him as someone who should not be let go. He is seen as somebody who is the most fitting person to occupy the positions. This does not mean that there are no others from other countries who can occupy his post, but they (UN officials) insist on having him," she added.

malaya.com.ph