NAVFORCEN proud of surface operations accomplishments

CEBU, Philippines - The Naval Force Central (NAVFORCEN) will be celebrating today their 32nd founding anniversary with several accomplishments bared since January up to September this year.

Ensign Judyline Cañoneo, public affairs officer of NAVFORCEN, said that the command has accomplished surface operations they categorized into four: naval operations in support to Internal Security Operations, Territorial Defense Operations, Sealift Operations and Maritime Law Enforcement (MARLEN) Operations.

Cañoneo said they accomplished 577 maritime operations because of the intensified conduct of naval operations against communist/terrorist and other threat groups in support to Central Command’s campaign plan “Kalinaw-Visayas II” and “Bantay Turismo.”

The command also accomplished 10 Territorial Defense Operations both in San Bernardino and Surigao Straits. The command’s area of responsibility includes the whole of Visayas.

On Sealift Operations, it has accomplished five sealift missions of CentCom’s ground forces conducting ISO in Bohol, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Samar and Iloilo.

Cañoneo said that the Navforcen conducted 142 MARLEN Operations involving campaigns on anti-piracy, illegal logging, illegal fishing, and other illegal activities at sea.

This is in support to and in coordination with agencies of the government such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Maritime Authority Industry and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, among others, she said.

In line with the anniversary, NAVFORCEN lined up pre-anniversary activities such as mangrove propagule and tree planting last Thursday, a Health Care Fair the following day, a bloodletting activity the next day, and a photo/static display yesterday at the SM City Cebu.

Cañoneo said that NAVFORCEN decided to cut off cost for its anniversary in order to donate anniversary fund to typhoon victims. — Niña G. Sumacot/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)