3 Japanese training ships due in Philippines, says Navy

MANILA, Philippines - Three Japanese training vessels are expected to dock in Manila for a week-long "goodwill visit" aimed at enhancing and strengthening relations between the two navies, the Philippine Navy said Friday.

In a statement, the Navy said the Japanese vessels are from the Japanese Training Squadron of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). They are composed of JS Kashima (TV-3508), JS Shimayuki (TV-3513) and JS Matsuyuki (DD-130).

They will arrive at the port of Manila on May 28 and will stay there until June 1. The squadron will be headed by Rear Admiral Hidetoshi Fuchinoue who will lead a series of goodwill activities with personnel of the Philippine Navy and heads of the local government and other government agencies in Manila.

A Meeting Procedure off Corregidor Island is set in the early morning of May 28, prior their entry into Manila Bay with Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Apolinario Mabini (PS36), a Jacinto-Class Patrol Vessel (JCPV) designated as the receiving ship during the procedure.

A Meeting Procedure is a traditional navy event observed internationally where the host ship meets with the visiting ship/s and escorts them to their port of call. The visit hopes to strengthen existing friendly relations between the two navies through a series of scheduled events aimed at enhancing understanding and cooperation.

The Meeting Procedure will be followed by quarantine, immigration and discussion of the details of the scheduled activities and a security briefing aboard the Japanese ships by Philippine officials at the Anchorage Area of Manila Bay over the day.

On May 29, the ships and her crew will participate in a Welcome Ceremony at the Eva Macapagal Super Terminal, South Harbor headed by Philippine Navy representative Commodore Manuel Natalio Abinuman, Commander of the Philippine Fleet’s Patrol Force who will welcome the JSDMF Squadron Commander, Fuchinoue.

Other activities lined up include a ship's tour, a wreath laying at the Rizal Park and other events. The Navy said these kinds of "Navy to Navy engagements" are a vital part in the diplomatic role of navies.

he PN incorporates its International Defense and Security Engagements mission area into this diplomatic role to further its operational effectiveness through interoperability enhancements and sharing of best practices regarding related naval tactics, techniques and procedures," it said.

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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | May 25, 2012 | Article Link

Philippine and US Military Learn From Japan’s Disaster Response

CAMP AGUINALDO, QUEZON CITY— The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces USAF) were able to see the perspective of the Japan Self-Defence Force’s (JSDF) Disaster and Response Operations (DRO) when the 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit Eastern Japan, March last year.

This was during yesterday’s Balikatan Exercise 2012 (BK12) Senior Leader’s Seminar SLS) on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) at the Tejeros Hall of the AFP Commissioned Officers Club. The seminar is the first of its kind which pump primed the Command Post Exercise (CPX) that started today at Camp Aguinaldo. The table top exercise will simulate different natural disaster and calamity scenarios which will test and improve the planning, preparations, program of action and responses of both Philippine and US military.

Captain Yuzo Shibata of JSDF shared yesterday the general immediate response of their military during natural disasters. “In my country, when disaster strikes, the local governors in each respective prefectures are to issue the JSDF aid request to local military unit. Upon receiving the request, the unit will either conduct DR Ops or pass the word to the other units, other branches, depending on the scale of the disaster. In case if the communication tools are all down and the situations are obviously critical, the commanders of the local units are expected to conduct DR Ops by their own judgment,” Shibata said.

Japan is said to be the most prepared country for an earthquake or a tsunami but the March 2011 disaster proved that even the most prepared is not safe from the terrible effects of natural calamities. Following the Nuclear Power Plant threat in Fukushima, JSDF conducted aerial and ground water spraying, search and rescue operations within contaminated areas, and screenings after the entry to contaminated areas. Shibata said that during the crisis, JSDF “never imagined doing these operations before.”

Foreseeing future challenges, Capt Shibata finally recommended for the review of the Disaster Relief Operations Plan, and Crisis Management Postures by cooperating with relevant organizations.

The SLS is a venue in the BK12 that allows senior level discussions on HADR lessons, processes, and functions that will enhance local and international humanitarian risk reduction/mitigation and response mechanisms. Accordingly, foreign partners discussed their experiences and mechanisms in terms of HADR.

Different representatives from local and foreign agencies with vast experience and knowledge on the conduct of HADR attended yesterday’s seminar. USEC Benito Ramos, Executive Director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Center presented the Philippine Disaster Response System; MGen Romeo V Calizo, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, discussed AFP’s Role on HADR; and Dir Edgardo Ollet (MNSA), Chief of the Operations Center of the Civil Defense Office, discussed the Philippine HADR Experience.

Also, Col Timothy C Frantz of the US 3rd Marine Division discussed Operation Tomodachi, US Armed Forces’ assistance program to Japan following 2011’s earthquake and tsunami. He was joined by LTC Stuart Graham who will discuss the Australian Defence Force’s Disaster Response Relief programs.

Todd Bosse, Senior Geospatial Info Analyst of the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) talked about the facilities, programs and other going-ons of the PDC. Also present were Col James Reilly USMC, Chief of Staff of the USMARFORPAC; and Col Rafael Valencia, Chief of the ARMO, Philippine Army who acted as moderators of the Panel Discussions.

AFP Chief of Staff General Jessie D Dellosa said that the SLS in the Balikatan 2012 aims to strengthen and enhance internal Philippine HADR processes through collaborative dialogue. “The different approaches employed by other countries in HADR will surely help us widen our perspective and improve our policies, procedures, preparations, and responses in the emergence of natural calamities and man-made disasters in the Philippines,” Gen Dellosa said.

“We thank the participants for sharing to us their experiences by which we can derive lessons and best practices for the improvement of our own HADR policies and responses. Having shared also our expertise in HADR, we hope that collective and collaborative efforts will continue for the benefit of the people we serve,” Gen Dellosa added.

Balikatan 2012 is the 28th of the series that sprung from decades of friendship and mutual assistance between the Philippines and the United States. The main focus of this year’s exercises is Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response. The activity seeks to identify gaps and solutions from previous disaster situations that will be addressed through discussions with representatives from foreign disaster response systems. 

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Armed Forces of the Philippines | April 17, 2012 | Article Link