The Philippine Navy’s newly-acquired vessel, Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas Andres Bonifacio, left Davao City for Iligan City on January 30 in the continuation of its operational tour.
Capt. Brendo Cascalang, commanding officer of BRP Andres Bonifacio, told the reporters Monday that both the vessel and its crew is a welcome asset for both the Philippine Navy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in addressing security concerns that confronts the country.
“Malaking tulong ito sa maritime operations ng Philippine Navy, lalo na as offshore patrols at surface operations tulad ng teritorrial and relief operations,” he explained, adding that BRP Andres Bonifacio would be used for strategic maritime operations, also known as patrols in the high seas.
Meanwhile, Ens. Earvin Lorrence Garcia of the Philippine Navy Personnel Management Center – mobile recruitment unit, said 45 cadets from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 2017 are undergoing their sea training with the newly acquired ship as the last phase of their training.
“It is an opportunity for them to acclimitize themselves to the Navy environment on board a warship before being officers of the PN,” he explained.
He added that the ship would be a “good training platform” for the cadets as the facilities of the vessel would equip the future officers with necessary knowledge and skills to operate and maintain modern vessels and aircraft.
The vessel shows an array of gears, weapons, disaster response equipment of the naval operations group, and a hangar for helicopters to cater the Marines and other contingents of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
BRP Andres Bonifacio accommodates 16 officers, 90 enlisted officers, and 45 graduating PMA cadets who would soon become navy officers.
The warship is part of the “Navy Modernization Program,” according to Cascalang.
BRP Andres Bonifacio is the third high endurance cutter of Philippine Navy’s fleet, the other two — BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcatraz — were acquired in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
