PCG's BRP Melchora Aquino formally commissioned into service

The Philippine Coast Guard's newest multi-role response vessel (MRRV), the BRP Melchora Aquino, was formally commissioned into service on Sunday, June 12, at Pier 15 of South Harbor, Manila.

President Rodrigo Duterte read the commission order granting permission to the commanding officer and first watch or sentinel "to set the watch" signaling the start of the vessel's official duty.

He then rendered a salute to acknowledge the BRP Melchora Aquino.

The vessel, also identified as MRRV 9702, was named after the hero known as "Tandang Sora", the acknowledged Mother of the Katipunan movement during the Spanish colonial rule.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) acquired the said vessel for the PCG through its Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (MSCIP) Phase 2, with funds from a loan from the Japan Official Development Assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The PCG said the BRP Melchora Aquino will be used "to conduct sustained maritime patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise."

"These vessels can also be utilized for humanitarian and disaster response operations when calamities or disasters occur," the DOTr said.

The vessel was modeled after the Kunigami-class vessel of the Japan Coast Guard. It has a maximum speed of not less than 24 nautical miles per hour and endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles.

The BRP Melchora Aquino is the second 97-meter MRRV of the PCG. The first one is the BRP Teresa Magbanua which was commissioned into PCG service on May 2.

Duterte meanwhile took the opportunity to commend the PCG for its "excellent" service.

"So far, Coast Guard has an excellent record and participation in even struggles in Mindanao. You have helped the government a lot by maintaining its independence and integrity as a Republic. Bilib ako sa inyo and I said at no other time na ang Coast Guard binigyan ng importansya. I can only thank my classmate, [DOTr Secretary] Arthur Tugade, for husbanding the entire agency of Coast Guard," Duterte said. —KG, GMA News