Headquarters Naval Forces Central (HNFC), Naval Base Rafael Ramos (NBRR), Brgy Looc, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, September 27, 2023 – Naval Forces Central (NFC) warmly welcomed the Philippine Navy (PN) Patrol Ship BRP RAMON ALCARAZ (PS16) aboard Pier 5, Cebu Port Authority, Cebu City; and the Indonesian Navy (IDN) Patrol Ships KRI SAMPARI (628) and KRI HIU (634) aboard Captain Veloso Pier (CVP), NBRR, Brgy Looc, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on September 24, 2023.
The aforementioned activity was spearheaded by CAPT RAUL A REGIS PN(GSC), Deputy Commander, Naval Forces Central (DCNFC) and the Commander, Naval Task Force 50 (CNTF50) together with the Officers and personnel from NFC, NIFC, and other Surface assets aboard CVP. The said patrol ships together with its crew will participate in the Maritime Training Activity between the Republic of the Philippines and Indonesia dubbed as “MTA PHILINDO 2023” to be held in Cebu and sea waters Southwest off Negros Oriental from September 24 – 30, 2023.
MTA PHILINDO 2023 is an annual Navy-to-Navy maritime training between the PN and IDN conducted in different Naval Operating Forces in the Philippines which will be reciprocated with the same event in Indonesia.
This year’s 3rd iteration, the MTA PHILINDO 2023 will be done to further enhance interoperability, situational awareness and mutual cooperation between the two Navies. The said activity will involve navigation and operations training to strengthen the relationship and enhance the mutual cooperation of both Navies by developing combined operation doctrines, practices and naval tactics. This will be highlighted through the conduct of Field Training Activities such as maritime security operations, surveillance, reconnaissance, maritime interdiction operations, gunnery training and air operations training.
Naval Forces Central, Your Navy in the Visayas continues its advocacy and unwavering commitment in strengthening the existing collaborative partnerships and ties with the various counterpart Navy forces in the Asia-Pacific Region in order to achieve and promote cooperation towards peace, stability, security and progress in the Visayas.