Aquino to get newly refurbished presidential yacht

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy is turning over to President Aquino for his official use, a newly refurbished presidential yacht during the traditional christening and commissioning of its newly acquired naval and air assets scheduled next week.

To be commissioned for deployment in the West Philippine Sea are newly acquired Hamilton-class Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15), the all Filipino-made Landing Craft Utility (LCU) BRP Tagbanua (AT-296), and the newly refurbished BO105 helicopter (PNH-422) donated by the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The commissioning of the new naval and air assets would be on Dec. 14 at Pier 13 at the South Harbor in Manila.

“It’s all systems go to commission and christen our newly acquired naval and air assets,” Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Omar Tonsay said.

Tonsay cited a letter-directive from Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama for the creation of a task group to oversee the entire commissioning and christening event that will be graced by President Aquino as guest of honor and speaker.

Also highlighting the event is the renaming and the handing over to the President for his use, of a recently refurbished presidential yacht, BRP Pag-Asa (AT-25).

Tonsay said that presidential yacht also would reassume her former name, BRP Ang Pangulo after it was renamed BRP Pag-Asa by the past administration.

“The occasion highlights the maiden deployment of the newly commissioned vessels to their designated deployment areas,” Tonsay said.

“BRP Pag-Asa and soon to be BRP Ang Pangulo will be renamed back to its original name. It is intended that this traditional name would be more fitting for the Presidential Yacht and would eliminate confusion between the Municipality of Pag-asa in Palawan and the Pagasa weather bureau,” Tonsay said.

Tonsay described the forthcoming event as commitment of the present administration to find opportunities to push forward the Navy’s advocacy of the Philippines as a maritime nation.

 Gregorio del Pilar arrived in the Philippines from the US last Aug. 23. The vessel was acquired through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) Program using Department of Energy Malampaya gas-to-power project funds.

The “hot transfer” adopted for the acquisition of PF-15 means that the ship was very much in service in the US Coast Guard and was decommissioned only to effect its transfer to the Philippines.

On the other hand, the all Filipino-made Tagbanua is primarily configured to transport combat personnel, tanks, vehicles, artillery equipment, and cargoes in support to military amphibious operations.

The transport vessel is now undergoing sea trial at Manila Bay after sailing to the Navy headquarters in Manila from a shipyard in Mindanao.

Also the vessel can play non-combatant roles like evacuation, medical assistance projects, disaster, rescue and relief operations, and perform missions in support to national socio-economic projects of the government.

The vessel was acquired through the AFP Modernization Fund.

The Navy acquired the PNH-422 through a donation from the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) of the Department of Tourism last August 2011.

With minor derangements upon its transfer to the Navy, Tonsay said the repairs and refurbishments were successfully done by the Philippine Fleet’s Naval Air Group (NAG). The helicopter is now ready for deployment.

Tonsay added the scheduled event is expected to highlight the Navy’s sustained efforts to upgrade its capability, the ability of the Philippines to do well in ship building business, and the success of joint efforts through interagency cooperation in supporting the Navy.