One of the newly-acquired ships of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be given the rare opportunity to welcome on board a second highest official of the United States.
This, after the PCG's BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) was chosen to welcome US Vice President Kamala Harris in her scheduled visit in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan on Nov. 22.
"US Vice President Harris would receive a briefing on the Coast Guard's current maritime operations in Palawan. This will occur after the vessel tour onboard one of the two biggest PCG vessels to date," said PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo.
The BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was commissioned early this year, is the lead ship of the two Kunigami-class vessels that the PCG procured from Japanese shipbuilder, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd, along with its sister ship, BRP Melchora Aquino. Both Magbanua and Aquino, or Tandang Sora, are known figures in Philippine history.
It has a maximum speed of at least 24 knots and an endurance of at least 4,000 nautical miles. It is capable of conducting sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, especially in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
"Aside from Coast Guard officers, officials from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and local government units (LGUs) will board BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) to listen to the Vice President's address," said Balilo.
Harris' visit in the Palawan is seen as a move that aims to prove US support for the Philippines in upholding rules-based international maritime order in the South China Sea amid the territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
Palawan is one of the closest provinces in the Philippines in the disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea where China already built structures in the past years.