Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Andres Bonifacio (FF17), the Philippine Navy’s newest ship, has arrived in Davao on Saturday and is expected to leave the city this Monday.
The ship, a former US Coast Guard high endurance cutter, arrived in early December after being acquired by the government under the Excess Defense Articles and the Foreign Assistance Act.
The newly-acquired warship docked at the Sasa Wharf in Barangay Calumpang and was formally welcomed by city officials led by Public Safety and Security Command Center head MGen Benito de Leon who represented Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Lt. James Reyes, public affairs officer of the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, told Edge Davao that the frigate’s visit is part of its nationwide tour and “shakedown mission” that started in Cebu City last January 13.
The official said Navy officials decided to stage a public tour for the frigate “as we need to show that the Navy is the ship and ship is the Navy.”
“The tour is also aimed to test the seaworthiness and endurance of the ship, which is mainly capable of staging maritime interdiction operations or patrols in the high seas,” he said.
Being a “cutter” warship, Reyes added it could navigate through rough seas and cut through huge waves.
He said the ship, which is manned by 180 officers and crew, is also equipped with an “Oto Melara” gun or cannon, which he described as capable of taking out moving targets at sea.
“Being a frigate, it has hangar for helicopters. So it could also cater to the marines and other contingents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines,” he said.
From 1967 to 2016 the ship was a Hamilton-class high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard that was named USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) and was decommissioned in early 2016.
Aside from the open house, Reyes said they will hold an exhibit and recruitment activities on Thursday for Navy active service and reservists at the SM mall.
The exhibit will feature gears, weapons and disaster response equipment of the naval special operations group or the “Philippine Navy SEALS.”
