Padilla: Private sector should give port access for PHL Navy vessels

SEN. Robinhood C. Padilla has appealed to the private sector to allow better port access for Navy vessels, saying such would help the Armed Forces, particularly the Navy, do their job of defending the nation.

In a privileged speech late Tuesday, Padilla lamented that Navy ships need to wait four to 48 hours before being given access to ports.

“Hindi naman po lingid sa ating kaalaman ang tumitinding sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea, bunsod ng mga agresibong aksyon ng kabilang panig. Nararapat lamang na magkaroon tayo ng mga hakbangin sa paghahanda sa anumang senaryo na maaaring maganap sa ating bayan. [We all know that with rising tension in the West Philippine Sea due to aggressive actions from the other side, we must take steps to ensure our preparedness to defend ourselves],” Padilla said.

He added: “Kung kaya po ng ibang nasyon na tulungan ang ating bansa, tulad na lamang ng nagaganap na Balikatan Exercises ng ating hukbo, kasama ang mga sundalo ng America, nararapat lamang siguro po, Ginoong Pangulo, na asahan din natin ang suporta at tulong ng mga pribadong sektor nating mga kababayan. [If other nations can help us with activities like the ongoing Balikatan where our forces are training with those of the United States, then it is proper that we get support from our own private sector].”

The senator recalls that due to the lack of port access, Navy vessels face wear and tear, and delays in their maintenance as well as refueling and reprovisioning.”

Speaking mostly in Pilipino, he conveyed an appeal to the private sector to ease restrictions for accommodating mililtary units.

“The call is simple: give access to Philippine Navy vessels in our ports under the Philippine Ports Authority,” the senator said.

Moreover, Padilla also batted for more convergence projects between the PPA and Navy through their mother agencies—the Department of Transportation at Department of National Defense (DND).

“My goodness Mr. President, where can we see our own Navy having no access to our ports?,”he asked the Senate leadership, adding:“what happens to our vessels?they cannot be at sea all the time because they need rest and maintenance. The situation is unacceptable. All Filipinos want us to defend ourselves, yet our ports are not very accessible to our Navy,” Padilla also said.

At the same time, Sen. Padilla sought to enlist the cooperation of the private sector as “a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to improve the country’s security.”

“This could be a small thing for some but it means a lot for our Navy and Armed Forces,” he said.