Philippine Navy ship sets sail for Australia exercises

MANILA, Philippines — The Navy is sending a 300-member contingent to Darwin, Australia to participate in this year’s multilateral regional maritime exercise codenamed KAKADU 2018.

Commander Jonathan Zapata, Naval Public Affairs Office director, said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz would depart Manila’s South Harbor at 2 p.m. today to join the 15-day event from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15.

Zapata said the Navy would render a send-off ceremony for the 300-member contingent at Pier 13.

Exercise KAKADU is the 14th iteration of the multilateral naval exercise hosted biennially by the Royal Australian Navy.  

Zapata said the activity represents an opportunity for invited navies to participate in multinational maritime activities in a manner that promotes greater levels of military cooperation and understanding among nations.