Saturday, September 02, 2006

Mayuga lauds Philippine Fleet for heroic mission

By YUL MALICSE - Manila Bulletin

Philippine Navy flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Mateo M. Mayuga lauded yesterday the Philippine Fleet (Philfleet) for its competence in fulfilling its role in safeguarding the country’s seas, shores and borders, with its men and women braving the perils of great waters and providing comfort during times of disasters.

Speaking before the 46th Philfleet anniversary celebration held yesterday at the Cavite Naval Base in Sangley Point, Cavite City, Mayuga acknowledged the fleet’s contributions in improving sea travel by protecting the country’s seas from intruders.

"They have patrolled, intimidated, surveilled, aided and supplied," and "the Navy works because you have dedicated your toils, and efforts in accomplishing our mission in protecting our seas and waters and the entire archipelago," he stressed to the Philfleet personnel.

Mayuga described the Philfleet as the Navy’s "cutting edge," as the Fleet embodies "our warships at sea, which through them the mission of the Navy is fulfilled."

He said the Philfleet is synonymous with the Philippine Navy itself, "not only because of its history, but because of its very vital role played in naval operations."

Mayuga noted the Philfleet is the "backbone of our naval operations" and its 4,000-strong force is strongly heading towards modernization, despite limited resources.

"We, must, however, fully optimize the use of our resources – the materiel," said Mayuga, stressing that "the Navy’s thrust is to fully enable our men to reach our fulfillment."

Mayuga also said that the concluded Cooperation and Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise 2006 between the navies of the Philippine and the United States held in Subic, Zambales and La Union, was a ‘big success.’

"It is through important activities like these that we remain constantly attuned to the tides and times," he said, stressing that the Navy PNPhilfleet tandem gained much from the CARAT," he said.

This year, Philfleet’s anniversary theme: "One Fleet: Sama-sama Tungo sa Kapayapaan at Kasarinlan sa Karagatan" is expected to be a more responsive fleet, "with high operational readiness, manned by highly-trained and well-disciplined personnel," said Mayuga as he hailed the sterling leadership of Rear Admiral George T. Uy, the fleet’s commander.

Aside from Admiral Mayuga, those who graced the celebration were Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Abraham Abesamis, Cavite City Mayor Bernardo S. Paredes, Naval chief of staff Rear Admiral Emilio Marayag, Philippine Marines commandant Maj. Gen. Nelson Allaga, Cavite Naval Base commander Commodore Ramon Punzalan, Naval Sea Systems Command (NASSCOM) commander Commodore Margarito V. Sanchez Jr., other government officials and civic leaders.

In an interview, Rear Admiral Uy said "Philfleet has 583 officers and 3,323 enlisted men and personnel nationwide."

Deserving Philfleet officers, enlisted men and operating units were given awards of recognition for their heroic and meritorious service.

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