TACLOBAN CITY – The National Museum of the Philippines (NMP) will embark on a two-week archaeological exploration of the San Bernardino Strait in Northern Samar to locate shipwrecks linked to the Manila Galleon Trade and naval vessels that sank during World War II.

The exploration activity, to be conducted in collaboration with Allen Exploration (AEX), an American ocean research company, is set from Nov. 5 to 18 and will first cover the municipal waters of Allen, Lavezares, Biri, and Capul in Northern Samar.

The provincial government on Thursday announced the plan after key officials from NMP’s Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Division paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Harris Christopher Ongchuan and other provincial officials to discuss the upcoming mission.

“According to NMP, preliminary research suggests that at least seven shipwrecks may be found in the area, offering valuable insights into the Philippines’ maritime past,” the provincial government said in a statement.

The exploration will use advanced sonar technologies onboard the Armada A86, a state-of-the-art research and exploration vessel capable of conducting geophysical surveys and deep-sea mapping.

The NMP assured that if an archaeological excavation is carried out, all archaeological finds will remain the property of the Philippine government, ensuring the preservation of national heritage, according to the provincial government.

The provincial government noted that the NMP previously led the successful recovery of the Manila Galleon San Diego shipwreck off Batangas, which yielded over 34,000 artifacts and deepened understanding of the country’s maritime history during the 17th century.

San Bernardino Strait, the ocean that separates Luzon from Samar, is known for its crucial and treacherous maritime passage. The strait's challenging currents caused shipwrecks during the Spanish Galleon Trade in the 1500s.

The strait also became a strategic battleground in World War II, notably during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944. (PNA)