PHL’s Latest Warship Marks New Chapter of Navy

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT– Tuesday’s arrival of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz- the country’s newest warship opens a more modernized, stronger, and more trusted chapter of the Philippine Navy.

“BRP Alcaraz or also known as PF16 is the second high-endurance Hamilton class-cutter after the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. Similar to del Pilar, it is armed with equipment for territorial defense, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” said Navy Flag-Officer-In-Command Vice Admiral Luis Alano during the opening remarks of the festive rites at the Subic Freeport which was graced by President Benigno Aquino III.

“The arrival of the ship is a proud and exalting moment for every Filipino, just like the excitement and expectation of welcoming a new born,” Alano added.

BRP Alcaraz will be dry docked in Batangas for two months and be painted in gray. She will be officially commissioned this October.

The 378-foot-long ship is armed with an Mk.75 Oto Melara and also up for installation with a two new Mk. 38 mod 2 gun systems.  She was formally transferred by the United States to the Philippine government on May 22, 2012 during a ceremony in North Charleston, South Carolina.

Captain Ernesto Baldovino became her first commanding officer.

For more than a year, she undertook necessary repairs of machineries as well as training of her crew.  She left Charleston on June 10 for a two-month voyage to the country, making port stops in Mayport, Florida; San Diego, California; Hawaii; and Guam.

PF-16 officially entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Thursday and sail pasts were held when she was within the vicinities of Casiguran, Aurora and Bolinao, Pangasinan.