300 Navy personnel in Vietnam for port visit

MANILA, Philippines - Some 300 Philippine Navy (PN) personnel aboard BRP Ramon Alcaraz with a helicopter detachment left for Cam Ranh, Vietnam yesterday for a port visit and to have various military exercises with the Vietnamese Navy (VN).

The troops are expected to participate in practicing drills for unplanned encounters, maneuvers, communication exercise, search and rescue exercise, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, the flag officer in command, led the send-off ceremony at the South Harbor in Manila.

Public Affairs Office chief Capt. Lued Lincuna said the exercises between the PN and the VN “will give us an opportunity to not only practice what might be called upon to do in any given situation, but also the chance to establish a professional relationship with our allies, making us a more capable force working together at sea.”

Among the Philippine Navy personnel joining the five-day event are members of Naval Task Force 80 that include the crew of Alcaraz and PN helicopter Augusta Westland PNH 431, surface warfare students, medical team, Naval Special Operations Team and other port visit directorate members.

Lincuna said the Philippine Navy mission team is headed by Commodore Albert Mogol, commander of the fleet-marine ready force.

Other activities during the port visit include a courtesy call on the ambassador, Region 4 commander of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) and leader of Khanh Hoa province committee.

There will also be PN and VPN hosted dinners and receptions, city tour, Filipino community fellowship, ship’s tour aboard the Alcaraz and goodwill games with VPN.

Lincuna said PN-VPN interaction is being held annually, the most recent being the PN-VPN staff-to-staff talks held in Manila earlier this month.

Another interaction between the two navies has been planned around Pugad Island before the end of this year.