The 9th Combined Philippine Navy (PN)-Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Maritime Training Activity-Philippines (MTA-P) officially kicked-off with the arrival of Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Ararat at the Ensign Majini Pier of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao in Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, Bagong Calarian, this city earlier today (October 14, 2019).
An arrival ceremony was graced by Deputy Head of Mission Richard Sisson, WestMinCom Commander Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, WestMinCom’s Deputy Commander for Operations Brig. Gen. Generoso Ponio, Coast Guard District South-Western Mindanao Commander Commodore Joseph Coyme, Australian Defence Force’s Joint Task Group 629 Commander Lt. Col. Mitchell Watson, and Zamboanga City Vice Mayor Rommel Agan.
In his welcome remarks, Vice Mayor Agan said, “This visit (HMAS Ararat) signifies the strong alliance and relationship between the Philippine government and the government of Australia, and we appreciate that Zamboanga has been chosen as one of the ports of all”.
Also present during the ceremony were the officers and men of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao and other invited guests.
“The presence of our partners from the Australian Navy is something that we, here in Zamboanga City will truly value,” said Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana during, his remarks.
“We the foot soldiers, airmen, sailors, and the marines of Western Mindanao Command will just be around the corner to ensure that the security of our joint area of operation is being protected,” added Lt. Gen. Sobejana.
“With this joint exercise, I do believe that it is a very big deterrent so that the enemies of the state will think twice of passing along the area where the joint exercise is being conducted,” he concluded.
The MTA is being conducted since 2017 to continuously enhance the inter-operability of both navies. For this year, it will run from October 14-November 06, 2019.
Source: PIO Western Mindanao Command
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