Naval Forces Western Mindanao starts Pagsisikap 2021 exercise off Basilan

Naval Forces Western Mindanao (NFWM) commenced its naval exercise called “Pagsisikap 2021” with a ceremony in Zamboanga City, the military said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the NFWM said the five-day naval exercise will be conducted in the littoral areas and seawaters off Basilan and Sulu.

Western Mindanao Command chief Major General Alfredo Rosario Jr. presided over Monday's opening ceremony at Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, Bagong Calarian.

“This exercise will enhance the skills of our navy troops particularly in performing their mandates during the conduct of naval operations here in the south,” said Rosario.

Highlights of the exercise include the firing of a Spike-ER missile from a Multi-Purpose Attack Craft on a makeshift floating target at sea, amphibious landing of MARU forces to seize control of an island, and several at-sea events.

Also present in the ceremony were NFWM commander Rear Admiral Toribio Adaci Jr., commander for marine operations Colonel Adolfo Albalate, deputy commander for fleet operations Captain Alan Javier, and naval installation and facilities commander Captain Archibald Dino Delfin.

Javier, who is also the exercise director, said the NFWM will showcase the capability of the Fleet-Marine concept in the planning and execution of naval and amphibious operations in the littoral battlespace.

“The exercise will also include activities that will highlight the integral role of inter-agency collaboration in the conduct of maritime and naval operations," he added.

Adaci, for his part, said the exercise aims to test wartime and peacetime doctrines in the conduct of amphibious operations, maritime interdiction operations, surveillance and reconnaissance of the maritime areas, civil-military operations, and a host of other traditional and non-traditional naval operations. — DVM, GMA News