With the departure of BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16) and her embarked AgustaWestland AW-109 "Power" helicopter (PNH-431) Sunday for "Kakadu 2014", the Philippine Navy expects to further boost its surface warfare capability with its incoming interaction with the Royal Australian Navy and 12 other participant nations.
"(The) PN’s participation is expected to enhance its surface warfare capabilities and interoperability with regional navies. It will also be an opportunity for the PN to enhance cooperation, camaraderie, and good working relationship with the participating navies," PN public affairs officer for "Kakadu 2014" Ensign John Windy Abing said.
The biennial exercises, the largest hosted by the RAN, will from Aug. 25 to Sept. 12 at the Northern Australian Exercise Area.
The send-off ceremony for BRP Ramon Alcaraz and the 180 officers and enlisted personnel aboard her was spearheaded by PN vice commander Rear Admiral Isabelo H. Gador at Subic Bay Freeport, Olongapo, Zambales.
"Kakadu 2014" will be participated in by 12 countries. The participating countries with navy ships/aircrafts are
Abing said that this is the second time the PN has sent its ship to participate since the exercise began way back in 1993.
The first time that the PN sent a ship was in 1999. PN observers were also sent in 2003, 2005, and 2007.
It can be recalled that on March 2014, Alcaraz’s sister ship, BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PF-15) was also sent to Indonesia to participate for the first time in the Multilateral Naval Exercise codenamed “Komodo” which was participated in by 16 countries.
The PN’s participation in multilateral exercises is an affirmation of its commitment in collaborating with other navies to promote peace and stability in the maritime region.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=673787
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