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| BRP Tubbataha multi-role vessel |
By Evelyn Macairan
MANILA, Philippines - The third brand new 44-meter multi-role response vessel will arrive at the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) headquarters on Tuesday and will be deployed in Mindanao to conduct anti-piracy operations.
With 13 pirate attacks in southern Mindanao in the past six months, the PCG would be arming its new vessel – to be named BRP Malapascua – and deploy it in the vicinity of Zamboanga and Sulu to conduct maritime security patrols.
PCG spokesperson Commander Armand Balilo yesterday said that despite the dangers facing travelers along the Sibutu passage in Sulu archipelago, many commercial vessels are forced to that route to save time and cost of re-routing.
“The Sibutu Passage serves as a shortcut for vessels. If they would use another route, it would incur additional travel days and add to the delivery cost that would be passed on to consumers,” he added.
Piracy in southern Mindanao is one of the biggest challenges confronting the coast guard, which will be deploying the latest acquired asset to help patrol the sea.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who once served as transportation secretary under former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, would witness the commissioning of the new vessel that was made in Japan.
Read the full story at PhilStar