Pohang-class corvette BRP Conrado Yap due in July

A Pohang-class corvette donated by South Korea is set to arrive in the Philippines in July, the Philippine Navy said on Friday.

According to Chino Gaston's report for State of the Nation with Jessica Soho on Friday, the BRP Conrado Yap is equipped with anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities.

The BRP Conrado Yap's Filipino crew is already training on board to learn the corvette's electronics and weapons system while it undergoes maintenance before sailing to the Philippines.

The vessel was named after Captain Conrado Yap, a decorated Filipino soldier who was part of the Philippine Expeditionary Forces to Korea in the 50s.

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippines is planning to acquire 25 to 30 warships within the next 10 years under its part of the modernization program.

At a press conference, top officials of the AFP emphasized the need to modernize the Philippines' capabilities in maritime security.

"There is a saying that if you want to achieve peace, you prepare for war. I attended the International Maritime Security Conference last week sa Singapore and we observed thats a lot of Navies are modernizing their capabilities," Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, the Philippine Navy's Flag Officer In Command.

AFP Chief-of-Staff Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Jr., on the other hand, said "our intent is to come up with a very credible and sabi nga, world-class Armed Forces that the Filipino People will be proud of, incidental siguro na mayroong gan'yan na sitwasyon."

The official was referring to the growing tensions on territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News