Cebu naval base ideal for frigates, large ships

ONCE OPERATIONAL and with all the proposed improvements done, Naval Base Rafael Ramos in Lapulapu City in Cebu would be an ideal and strategic location for the Philippine Navy (PN) as it could quickly deploy south or north easily.

“Magandakasistrategic ang location since ang Cebu nasa gitna siya ng Pilipinas. Within one day pag galing ng Cebu makakapunta siya sa Norte, makapunta sa South tapos medyo tago pa siya. It's a very strategic location,” PN spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said.

The naval base is the projected home of the PN'S present and future frigates once upgrades consisting of dredging, primary and secondary roads, drainage systems, proposed slope protections, a 152-meter by 12-meter wharf, a 105-meter by 165-meter beaching ramp, and 225-meter by 20-meter berthing area among others, are completed.

Zata admitted that the improvements are intended to address the basing needs of the Navy's two 2,500 gross-ton missile-firing frigates, now undergoing construction in South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries, and expected to be delivered in 2020 and 2021.

These ships are expected to augment the three 3,200 gross-ton Del Pilar-class frigates, formerly the US Hamilton-class cutters now in PN service. Other large ships in the PN inventory are the twostrategicsealiftvessels,the 7,000-gross ton BRP Tarlac and BRP Davao Del Sur.

Dredging is needed as the waters in the facility are quite shallow for vessels with large drafts. The improvements have a budget of P1 billion.

Zata said there is a pressing need for the PN to upgrade the Cebu naval base as its frigates and other large ships in the fleet have no home port to speak of. At present,theselargenavyships are anchoring off Subic Bay and Pier 13, Manila South Harbor. And once these upgrades are completed, the base will be the first-ever facility capable of handling large vessels. (Priam Nepomuceno) CEBU CITY - The “Biyaya ng Pagbabago” rollouts have been keeping the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte closer to the grassroots in the Visayas, said Doris Mongaya, its Visayas convenor.

She said several millions of pesos have already been shelled out for the benefit of the grassroots in the region. It began in Cebu City on April 21 and was followed intalibon in Bohol and Iloilo City, and recently in Tacloban. “The Tacloban rollout included the distribution of housing awards. It was the fourth in the Visayas under the Biyaya ng Pagbabago. The rollouts at the Eastern Visayas State University in Tacloban also included the awarding of a P200,000 peanut butter processing facility to a farmers group, and a P200,000 ecoseptic technology to the Rural Health Unit of Hilongos by the Department of Science and Technology.

Mongaya said 48 checks of P3,000 each were also awarded to the Special Program for the Employment of Students beneficiaries and 61 checks of P2,500 each had been given to the beneficiaries of the Government Internment Program of the Department of Labor and Employment.

In addition, 20 pedicabs were also distributed to deserving members of the grassroots communities in Eastern Visayas. The Department of Agrarian Reform likewise awarded 100 certificates of land ownership under the government’s agrarian reform program and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources gave out 10 fiberglass boats.

The Tacloban City Hall distributed 399 certificates of housing awards while the National Housing Authority gave out 50 certificates. The Biyaya ng Pagbabago is an anti-poverty program under the auspices of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary headed by Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. and the Office for Participatory Governance headed by Undersecretary Joselito Libres, who also led the Tacloban rollout.“crucial to this grassroots program is the participation of pro-duterte movement Kilusang Pagbabago that empowers grassroots groups to claim projects and programs of government agencies for their own benefit,” Mongaya said. “You will notice that we are not just pushing for job creation.we are for spawning entrepreneurship down to the poorest sectors.”