To further boost its maritime capabilities, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is mulling to buy more 97-meter long multi role response vessels from Japan like the BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702).
Vice Adm. Eduardo Fabricante, PCG deputy commandant for operations, conveyed the agency’s intentions during the courtesy call of officials from the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry, Shimonoseki Shipyard, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila on Tuesday, June 14.
The Japanese delegates were led by Yasunori Yamaguchi, Toyota’s project general manager.
BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino were both manufactured by Mitsubishi and modeled after the Japan Coast Guard’s Kunigami-class vessels.
Both were the largest and most advanced assets of the PCG in its current fleet, being capable of sailing at a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots and habing an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles.
Now formally commissioned into PCG’s service, BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and Philippine Rise to uphold the country’s sovereignty.
“This is to increase the endurance and patrol capabilities of the PCG as the said capital ships can stay up to 14 days at sea,” the PCG said.
Acquiring more capital assets such as the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino will be a game changer for the PCG since it will be able to add muscle to its own fleet.
Moreover, Fabricante shared with the Japanese officials the successful participation of BRP Teresa Magbanua in its first-ever mission, the Regional Maritime Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2022 held in Makassar, Indonesia last month.