Coast Guard, BFAR nagsagawa ng maritime exercises sa West Philippine Sea

Gamit ang walong capital ships ng bansa nagsagawa ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ng maritime exercises sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ang pagsasanay ay kakapalooban ng intensified training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, at logistical operations.

Ang BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) at BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) ay nagsimula ng maritime exercises malapit sa Bajo De Masinloc noong Sabado (April 24) habang ang BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) at PCG-manned BFAR vessels ay sa bahagi naman ng karagatan na malapit sa Pagasa Island.

Lulan ng mga barko ang mga PCG personnel, na kinabibilangan ng mga abogado, medical doctors, nurses, rescue swimmers, weapons, communications, at information systems technicians, at iba pang maritime specialists.

Ayon kay PCG Spokesperson, Commodore Armando Balilo, ang maritime exercises ay pinangunahan ng Task Force Pagsasanay na layong makamit ang pagkakaroon ng operational at logistical efficiency.

“We are supporting the whole-of-nation approach in securing our maritime jurisdiction, especially the efforts of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) to undertake maritime security, maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection roles in our country’s waters,” ayon kay Balilo.

Maliban sa WPS, ang nasabing mga capital ship ay magsasagawa din ng maritime exercises sa Batanes Group of Islands, Benham Rise, at sa southern at eastern portions ng bansa.