THE military yesterday christened two newly-delivered fast attack interdiction craft-missiles (FAIC-M), boosting the external and internal defense capabilities of the Philippine Navy.
Armed Forces chief Lt. Gen. Bartolome Bacarro and Navy chief Vice Adm. Adeluis Bordado led the christening of the vessels, named BRP Nestor Acero and BRP Lolinato Toong, in rites at the Navy headquarters in Manila.
The vessels were named after Pfc. Nestor Acerto and 1Lt. Lolinato Toong, deceased Marine soldiers who are among the recipients of the Medal of Valor, the highest military decoration in combat.
The two missile-capable ships were delivered by Israeli shipbuilder Israel Shipyards Ltd. last Sunday, according to Navy spokesman Cdr. Benjo Negranza.
They comprise the first delivery of the nine FAIC-Ms that were ordered by the defense and military establishments, under the ongoing AFP modernization program, for P10 billion.
Negranza could not immediately say when the second batch of FAIC-Ms would be delivered.
Bacarro said the acquisition of the vessels is another concrete step that the military has taken to realize its vision of establishing a “modern (and) a multi-capable” naval force to defend the country.
Bacarro said the FAIC-Ms “shall strengthen our naval capability on littoral defense and maritime interdiction operation operations and likewise to decisively forward our self-reliant defense program to make our Armed Forces at par with nations in the region.
“These patrol boats shall also significantly enhance our external and internal defense operations in terms of securing our borders against foreign intrusions and in providing naval warfare support to our ground troops during the conduct of joint operations,” Bacarro added.
Bordado said the crew members of the two vessels will undergo a series of training, adding the vessels may be deployed by the second week of next month.
Bordado said the vessels will enhance the Navy’s capability in addressing threats within the country’s archipelagic territory and “protect our maritime interest in a rapid and precise manner.”
Bordado said he is happy to witness the christening of the vessels before bowing out of the service. He is due to relinquish the top Navy post to another officer on Thursday, a day before he reaches the retirement age of 56.
“I am grateful that I should get to witness a sizeable leap towards the Navy’s mission to become a modern and multi-capable naval defense force responsive to our maritime nation’s defense and development,” said Bordado.
