Assets maintenance now challenge for PH Navy: DND chief

From the Philippine News Agency (May 20, 2022): Assets maintenance now challenge for PH Navy: DND chief (By Priam Nepomuceno)

Photo courtesy of DND

With the Philippine Navy (PN) now getting more assets, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday said the challenge for the service now is getting these equipment properly maintained.

"And so recently, we have been procuring a lot of equipment for the navy and as narrated by the Flag-Officer-In-Command, we bought a lot of equipment, but I see some challenges ahead. I told the Flag-Officer-In-Command (PN chief Vice Admiral Adeluis Bordado) we have been buying things, but (the) challenge is how to maintain these equipment," he said in his speech during the Navy's 124th founding anniversary.

Lorenzana also said any unserviceable naval vessel or "those not ready for sea" is a useless ship.

He added that these vessels lying useless anchored might as well be sold for scrap iron.

"We need ships that could (sail out) there and patrol our maritime domains so the challenge now for the next Flag-Officer-In-Command, Chief-of-Staff and the Secretary of Defense is to convince Congress to allocate more funds for the maintenance of these equipment," Lorenzana said.

Another challenge, the DND chief said, is the Navy seems to have no basing facilities for its ships.

"Number 2, I also told Flag-Officer-In-Command that we have been buying ships, wala naman tayong paradahan (we have no area to dock), we have no adequate naval base to park the ships," Lorenzana said.

But this problem seemed to have been resolved with the PN managing to get the northern part of the Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction shipyard in Subic, Zambales.

"But recently, we were able to get the northern part of Hanjin, the Navy is happy because they now have a place of their own that they can park their capital ships, that’s it," Lorenzana said.

He said the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ modernization would not have been possible without the support of President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

"So, a lot of people have been thanking me, (retired members of the) Navy, Air Force also, because of the numerous assets that we have procured for their service during my time, and I always tell them that it's because of the President," he said.

Lorenzana said the Chief Executive has always been supportive of the AFP and all its endeavors.

And if there were no Covid-19 pandemic, the DND chief said more equipment would have been acquired for the AFP.

"But anyway, even if there was Covid, we were able to accomplish what we set out to do. So my advice to the Philippine Navy is to take care of these equipment that you have acquired, make them operational all the time and also keep improving the skills and expertise of your sailors and marines," Lorenzana said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174964