Open house for BRP Gregorio Del Pilar

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Jan. 27 (PIA) -- The newest naval asset of the Naval Forces West - Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15) will be open to the general public on Feb. 5 and will be anchored at the Puerto Princesa Anchorage Area.

The open house activity aims to show the people of Palawan the state of readiness of the vessel as protector of Palawan waters and the West Philippine Sea.

Since PF-15 arrived in the province of Palawan last December 25, 2011, it started patrolling the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone at the West Philippine Sea to fulfill its mission to protect the interest of the country, especially the much disputed Spratly Islands.

BRP also serves as an added naval security to the Malampaya Oil Fields and other petroleum service contract areas of the Department of Energy (DOE) in the West Philippine Sea.

All the directives of PF-15’s daily operation come from Naval Forces West according to Commodore Rustom Joseph Pena, Armed Forces of the Philippines Commander. BRP Gregorio del Pilar is now the fastest and largest warship of the Philippine Navy. It was transferred to the Philippine Navy by the United States Coast Guard on May 13, 2011 and was commissioned and christened into the naval service last December 14, 2011.

(Major Bogaoan-6CRG/OCJ/TBO-PIA4BPalawan)