U.S. Hospital Ship USNS Mercy in Subic Bay

 

The U.S. Hospital Ship USNS Mercy docked at Alava Pier of the Subic Bay Freeport for supplies, maintenance and rest & recreation.

On a four-month humanitarian mission in Asia, USNS Mercy has been to Indonesia and Leyte in the Philippines, attending to over 16,000 patients of various illnesses and concerns.

From Subic, the hospital ship will head to attend for more patients in Vietnam and then Cambodia before heading back to the U.S.

The U.S. Navy officers & crew of USNS Mercy are complimented by medical and technical personnel from various countries, including Australia, United Kingdom, etc.

To most residents and businessmen in Olongapo City, the Subic Bay Freeport which used to be the biggest U.S. Military installation outside the U.S. mainland until 1992, and nearby communities in Zambales, Bataan and Pampanga, the port call of USNS Mercy  is most welcome.

U.S. vessels’ port calls, as in the past during the U.S. base’ presence in the Philippines, always perk up economic activity because of the supplies and services sourced locally, on top of individual spendings of the officers and servicemen, infusing tens of millions of pesos in the local economy. SBN/vvv