Navy to hold anniversary celebration in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines - The Navy will celebrate its 116th anniversary next week in Palawan, the province nearest to the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea.

President Aquino is expected to attend the event on Tuesday at the Naval Station Carlito Cunanan in Ulugan Bay in Puerto Princesa City.

Aquino will inspect the improvements being made in the naval station’s port, living quarters and other support infrastructure.

He will also inaugurate mission-essential facilities for command and control of the Naval Forces West, the unit that oversees naval operations in the West Philippine Sea.

“This year’s anniversary is a departure from the traditional Navy anniversary celebrations where the venue is usually Manila-Cavite area,” said Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the Navy’s Civil-Military Operations Group.

“The Navy will show the President the improvements being undertaken and what other mission-essential facilities are needed in that base to sustain its operations in the West Philippine Sea,” he added.