Canadian Navy ship arrives in Manila for a goodwill visit - Philippine Navy

MANILA, Philippines—A Royal Canadian Navy ship arrived in Manila Tuesday for a goodwill visit, the Philippine Navy said. 

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina (FFH334) arrived at the Port of Manila about 1 p.m. The visit was part of “strengthening the diplomatic relation between the two countries,” said Philippine Navy spokesman Lieutenant Commander Gregory Gerald Fabic. 

The ship, composed of 42 officers and 219 enlisted personnel, is led by Commander Jason Boyd.
The ship is docked at Pier 13 in South Harbor until Saturday. 

“In this connection, Philippine Navy personnel and the ship’s crew will have professional exchange discussion and sports events. It will help enhance the skills and expertise and foster a bond of friendship among navies,” Fabic said. 
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Frances Mangosing | INQUIRER.net | February 12, 2013 | Article Link

AFP's new military force in Metro Manila activated Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - A new military task force that will secure Metro Manila and will replace the Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) will be launched Thursday.

The inauguration of the Standing Joint Task Force NCR will coincide with the retirement of Maj. Gen. Tristan Kison, the incumbent commander of the NCRCOM.

The deactivation of the NCRCOM is in line with the Defense department’s planning guidance, which seeks to restructure the military to ensure the efficient use of resources.
Maj. Warden Zamora, spokesman of the NCRCOM, said the Standing Joint Task Force NCR would have the same functions as that of its predecessor.

He said the task force would also support the Philippine National Police in maintaining order in the metropolis. The task force would also secure the government’s seat of power and would also serve as an anti-coup unit.

Unlike the NCRCOM, which is handled by a three-star general, the Standing Joint Task Force NCR will be led by a one-star general.

“The Standing Joint Task Force NCR will be composed of the officers and personnel of the NCRCOM,” Zamora said.

Col. Manuel Ramiro, the deputy commander of the NCRCOM, will serve as acting commander of the task force.

The task force will report directly to the Armed Forces General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo.

Zamora said there are plans to transform the task force into a national maneuver force, which will deploy soldiers to areas that need additional troops.

The plan is to incorporate troops from elite units like the Joint Special Operations Group and the Light Reaction Battalion in the task force in 2014.

“But these are just plans and nothing is final yet,” Zamora said.

Under the Defense department’s planning guidance for 2013 to 2018, troops that used to belong to NCRCOM would be placed under a new unit called Northern Command (Northcom).

Northcom is expected to handle all military forces in Luzon except those in Palawan, which will still be under the Western Command. The Defense department wants Northcom activated by next year.

NCRCOM has been tasked to curb uprisings in Metro Manila and to support disaster response and civil disturbance management efforts.
 
It covers 16 cities, one municipality, and 1,695 barangays with a total population of around 12 million. The unit is based in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City and is tasked to secure the seat of the government.

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Alexis Romero | The Philippine Star | July 11, 2012 | Article Link

Manila, Rome to enhance defense ties after Philippines eyes purchase of Italian warship

The Philippines and Italy are set to further strengthen their defense partnership, Manila's Ambassador to Rome Virgilio Reyes Jr. said on Wednesday. 

The announcement came roughly two months after the Philippines' Defense Department disclosed plans of acquiring a third warship from Italy after purchasing two from the United States. 

Officials of both countries' defense departments will hold an exchange of visits to enhance their strategic defense ties, Reyes said in a statement on Wednesday. 

“[We are] committed to its effective concrete implementation,” Reyes said.

In May, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin raised the possibility that the country may acquire another warship from Italy. The Philippines has two warships, the first, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar, was acquired from the US Coast Guard last year. The second may arrive in November, Gazmin said. 

Speaking at the 65th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between both countries, Reyes also asked the Italian Ministry Foreign Affairs to sign two pending agreements--the Draft Executive Cultural Program between the Philippine and Italy and the Draft Protocol to Amend the Bilateral Convention on the Avoidance of Double Taxation.

Manila and Rome established diplomatic ties since July 1947, a relationship that has been marked by several cooperation agreements over the past years.

In his speech, Reyes also thanked Italy's foreign ministry for allowing Filipinos to promote their own food in Italy, including mango rum liquor, and for permitting Filipino artists showcase their artworks. 

"[During] the end of June, the Philippine Tropical Fruit Business Mission to Italy had a productive visit around markets of Rome and Bergamo and [held] important exchange of discussion with the Italian fruit growers and importers in the Centro Agroalimentare di Roma (CAR)," Reyes said.

"I would like to expresse my gratitude to the government of the Italian Republic for its gracious hosting of the Filipino community in Italy with the assurance that Filipino nationals will contribute positively to the Italian society and economy," Reyes stressed.

Reyes then expressed the Philippine government’s commitment toward upholding, protecting, and promoting the rights and interests of the Filipino community in Italy. Some 131,000 Filipinos work in Italy as maids, nurses, or service workers.

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Pots de Leon | InterAksyon.com | July 11, 2012 | Article Link