PRRD boards Japan helicopter carrier anchored in Subic Bay for 4-day visit
Ph Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte boarded Japan Maritime Self Defense (JMSDF)’s largest ship, the helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183), which arrived in Subic Bay for a four-day goodwill visit, with its guided-missile destroyer escort JS Sazanami (DDG-113). With Duterte were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA} Chairman Martin B. Dino, Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Subic Town Mayor Jay Khonghun, Cong. Jeffrey Khonghun, SBMA Directors and other officials, who were welcomed aboard the carrier by JMSDF officers. Pres. Duterte visited Subic at a time when SBMA Administrator Eisma declared a “highest alert” security status. Some locators, however, frowned on the alert status because of, according to them, the negative impact on their businesses. SubicBayNews photos by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr. 
MANILA — Pres. Rodrigo R. Duterte boarded Japan Maritime Self Defense (JMSDF)’s largest ship, the helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183), which arrived in Subic Bay for a four-day goodwill visit, with its guided-missile destroyer escort JS Sazanami (DDG-113).
Philippine Navy (PN) spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna, in a statement Monday, said the ships are the JMSDF’s Flotilla One and is commanded by Rear Admiral Yoshihiro Goka.
Aboard the JS Izumo are eight SH-60K patrol helicopters, 800 officers and enlisted crew members.
After their Subic Bay visit, the ships will participate in the Malabar Naval Exercise in India.
Lincuna said the Japanese ships were rendered meeting point procedures by the BRP Rajah Humabon (FF-11) at the vicinity of Subic Bay.
PN representatives then accorded the visiting navy a welcome ceremony upon arrival followed by a port briefing related to security and health aboard JS Izumo.
The four-day visit will include series of confidence building engagements between PN and JMSDF personnel such as a courtesy call to Philippine Fleet head Rear Admiral Gaudencio Collado.
The visit is expected to enhance the already strong relationship between the PN and JMSDF. Moreover, the visit will further enhance and sustain promotion of peace, stability, and maritime cooperation between the two countries through naval diplomacy and camaraderie.
The JS Izumo is the biggest ship in the JMSDF and it weighs around 27,000 tons nd measures 248 meters long.
She was laid down on Jan. 27, 2012 and launched on Aug. 6, 2013. The ship began sea trials on Sept. 29, 2014 and was commissioned on March 25, 2015.
With Duterte were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA} Chairman Martin B. Dino, Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Olongapo City Mayor Rolen C. Paulino, Subic Town Mayor Jay Khonghun, Cong. Jeffrey Khonghun, SBMA Directors and other officials, who were welcomed aboard the carrier by JMSDF officers.
Pres. Duterte visited Subic at a time when SBMA Administrator Eisma declared a “highest alert” security status.
Some locators, however, frowned on the alert status because of, according to them, the negative impact on their businesses. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA with reports by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr./SBN)
