THE COAST Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM) welcomed the arrival of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) on Wednesday, May 29, in preparation for the upcoming ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF).
CGDSEM commander Commodore Rejard Marfe said BRP Gabriela Silang would bolster security for the Coast Guard forum from June 4 to 7, specifically in the Island Garden City of Samal.
“Because we are expecting 8 to 10 commandants and 200 delegates from the same countries that will participate in the said event,” Marfe said in his message on Wednesday afternoon during the arrival ceremony at DPWH Panacan wharf.
Marfe emphasized the importance of securing international delegates and expressed gratitude for the additional support.
“The international community will also be here and there is really a need to secure our delegates that is why I’m extending the highest gratitude to the Coast Guard and sending another capital ship in Southeastern Mindanao as an augmentation vessel during the ACF,” he added.
In his message, Coast Guard Captain Lawrence Roque, the ship commander, said they recently concluded an escort mission to Bajo de Masinloc before arriving in Davao City.
“We are honored to be welcomed by the Davaoeños and Coast Guard personnel,” Roque said, adding they will also conduct border patrols in Balut Island and Indonesia.
After the augmentation until the end of June, he said the ship will proceed to Negros Occidental for the annual marine pollution exercise to be hosted by the Philippines to be participated by Indonesia, Japan, Vietnam, and other ASEAN countries on June 24 to 28.
BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is an offshore patrol vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Silang is the first offshore patrol vessel and currently, the second largest and most modern vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard. Named after Gabriela Silang, a revolutionary leader during the Philippine struggle for independence from Spain.
It was constructed by French shipbuilder OCEA S.A. based on the OPV-270 Mk II design, in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
