AFP deploys marine amphibious force to Palawan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 17, 2023): AFP deploys marine amphibious force to Palawan

FORCE BUILD-UP. Troops belonging to the Marine Amphibious Ready Unit of the Philippine Marine Corps arrive in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Saturday morning (June 17, 2023). Their presence will beef up the Armed Forces of the Philippines' strength in the island province. (PNA photo by Issa Reynoso)

PUERTO PRINCESA, Palawan – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Saturday deployed Marine Battalion Landing Team 9 (MBLT-9) to Palawan to bolster its military strength in maintaining security, peace, and progress.

The troops, forming the first Marine Amphibious Ready Unit (MARU) of the Philippine Marine Corps, arrived in the morning aboard the Philippine Navy vessel BRP Tarlac.

With the arrival of MBLT-9, there are now three battalions securing Palawan.

The Marine Battalion Landing Team-3 is stationed in northern Palawan, while the Marine Battalion Landing Team-4 is in southern Palawan.

Col. Wilfredo Manalang, deputy commander of the 3rd Marine Brigade, led the arrival ceremony at Puerto Princesa City seaport. He represented Col. Antonio Mangoroban, the commander of the brigade.

Speaking at the event, Manalang emphasized the crucial role the MBLT-9 will play in maintaining peace, order, and stability in Puerto Princesa City and the 23 municipalities in the province.

"After 15 years, MBLT-9 is once again back in Palawan. And with the unit composed of professional officers and enlisted personnel, ably led by Lt. Col. Alquin Canson, it will surely be a factor in the peace, security, and development efforts of the province," he said.

Manalang said the battalion had recently completed its training, qualifying it as a suitable MARU to support Palawan in maintaining advancements in security, peace, and development.

The deployment will also focus on familiarization of the joint operational area that will enhance its ability to operate seamlessly in efficiently managing its resources to address any contingencies, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

The unit's deployment also presents an "exceptional opportunity" for additional training as a marine amphibious force, allowing its troops to enhance further their overall effectiveness in accomplishing missions.

As Palawan continues to thrive and attract both domestic and international attention, the reinforcement of military forces will ensure the protection of its natural resources, tourism industry, and the safety of residents, according to Manalang.

Canson said they are highly trained and equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to carry out various missions and operations effectively.

He explained that despite the geographic challenges of being an archipelagic province, their arrival would allow them to put their training as a prepared amphibious unit into practice.

"Our amphibious capabilities as MBLT-9 have also been enhanced through recent retraining," Canson said, adding hat they have one company trained for HADR operations.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1203744