Former gas plants at Recto Bank eyed as Navy stations
THE Phi l ippine Navy plans to convert Nido and Matinloc, the two recently retired gas plants in Recto Bank, into floating monitoring stations due to their strategic locations.
The plan was bared by Navy chief Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo, who flew to the two former gas platforms in northwest Palawan on Saturday via naval helicopter AW109.
“This inspection intends to look at the viability of these retired gas platforms to be converted to observation posts for Recto Bank and Malampaya gas platform,” Bacordo said.
“This will further enhance our capability to protect our maritime interests in these strategic locations,” he added.
The Department of Energy ( DOE) stopped last year the operations of the two gas fields after more than 40 years of gas production for the country.
According to Navy Public Affairs Office chief Lt. Cmdr. Maria Christina Roxas, the DOE has offered the transfer of ownership of the two former gas platforms to the military through several meetings of the National Task Force in the West Philippine Sea.
“It is the DND’S position to acquire said platforms and expeditiously transfer it to the Armed Forces of the Philippines [AFP],” she said.
Before proceeding to Nido and Matinloc, Bacordo visited the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Malampaya in El Nido, Palawan, where he was accorded with a foyer honotr upon arrival.
The visit was joined by Naval Forces West commander Commo. Renato David and 3rd Marine Brigade commander Brig. Gen. Nestor Herico.
Bacordo was accompanied to Nido and Matinloc by JTF Malampaya commander Navy Captain Donn Anthony Miraflor and Naval Staff for C4ISR Capt. Marcos Imperio.
Roxas said the military has plans to convert the two retired gas platforms into a Littoral Monitoring Stations (LMS) for the Navy.
“The platforms’ location is deemed to be ‘strategic and vital’ due to its proximity to Recto Bank, Malampaya and Galoc Gas Fields,” Roxas said.
The Malampaya Gas Field is located 820 meters deep, 80 kms off the coast of Palawan which falls under the area of responsibility of Naval Forces West.
“The future LMS of the Philippine Navy is a welcome addition to the Navy’s improving capabilities to better serve our maritime nation especially in its critical location near the nation’s source of natural gas,” Roxas said.