‘Bato’ backs stronger Navy
Dela Rosa said that since the country is an archipelagic nation, the more that it needs a stronger Navy which, he said, has been getting less attention in the past
Citing the need for a stronger Philippine Navy (PN) being an archipelagic nation, Sen. Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa vowed all-out support to the modernization program of the command responsible in safeguarding the country’s maritime domain.
In his visit to the PN Headquarters on Monday, De la Rosa acknowledged the important role to the Navy in securing the country’s borders, thus the need to acquire modern assets.
“I’m here to support you,” vowed De la Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Corrections.
“So long as the government can provide it, it will. I’m sure you won’t ask for anything that will not be for the country’s good. You can expect (that I will) support you all the way,” he added in his speech.
De la Rosa said that since the country is an archipelagic nation, the more that it needs a stronger Navy which, he said, has been getting less attention in the past.
“Our country, being archipelagic in nature, really needs the Navy. And yet, of the three branches of service, it gets less attention,” De la Rosa said.
At the same time, De la Rosa cited the services of all marines and sailors to the national government — guarding the country’s territorial waters with what they have.
During his visit to the PN Headquarters, De la Rosa was accorded military honors. He was warmly welcomed by Navy Flag-Officer-in-Command Vice Adm. Robert Empedrad and other senior leaders of the naval service.
This was followed by the pinning of the Honorary Flag Rank Command Badge to the senator at the Hall of Flags. Empedrad also thanked De la for making the PN one of his first stops in his rounds of various government agencies.
Relatedly, the Navy yesterday formally welcomed its newest and “most powerful ship” during ceremonies at Pier 13 in Manila.
Philippine Fleet commander Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said that BRP Conrado Yap, acquired from South Korea, has anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare capability.
The vessel was named after Captain Conrado Yap, a decorated Filipino soldier who was part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea during the 1950s.
It measures 88.3-meter long with a beam of 10 meters and a draft of 2.9 meters with displacement at 1,216 tons full load and is rated for a crew of 118 personnel and can sustain operational presence for 20 days.