PH warship sails for Singapore to join city-state’s navy anniversary celebration

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar (File photo by FRANCES MANGOSING / INQUIRER.net)

A Philippine warship sailed out to Singapore on Saturday to participate in the 50th anniversary celebration of the city-state’s navy later this month.

The BRP Gregorio del Pilar sailed out of Manila Bay to participate in the Singapore Navy’s golden jubilee celebration from May 11 to 19.

Rear Adm. Allan Ferdinand Cusi, the chief of naval staff (CNS), presided over the send-off ceremony at Manila’s South Harbor.

On board BRP Gregorio del Pilar were members of Naval Task Group 80.5, who will proceed to Davao for the Philippine Navy’s 119th anniversary on May 24 after visiting Singapore.

Adm. Ronald Joseph S Mercado, the Navy’s flag officer in command, will also attend Singapore’s 1st International Maritime Review; International Maritime Defense Expo (IMDEX) Asia 2017; and the 5th International Maritime Security Conference (IMSC).

These will serve as an opportunity to solicit modernization initiatives that could benefit the Navy.

The Navy contingent will also engage in friendly discussions and exchanges with the other participants of IMDEX 2017 through the 6th WPNS Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX), the 3rd International Naval Engineering Conference (INEC), and the Maritime Information-Sharing Exercise (MARISX).

The mission will also be a training opportunity for the 35 students of the Naval Officers Basic Officers Course (NOBC) who will undergo shipboard training onboard BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

They will visit state-of-the art training facilities of the Singaporean Navy and also get a chance to interact with the Filipino communities in Singapore.

The Philippine Navy recently participated in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition last March this year. /atm