The Philippine Navy will be upgrading its forces tasked to guard and protect the region with the approval of a plan to change its organizational structures in a bid to further boost its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Navy said the move is also in line with China’s continuing aggressions in the region.
Navy spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said a reform in the organizational structure has been approved by the Department of the National Defense (DND) for the upgrading of Naval Forces West (Navforwest) based in Puerto Princesa City into Western Naval Command, and the Naval Forces Northern Luzon in San Fernando, La Union to Northern Luzon Naval Command.
The two naval forces are in charge of securing Philippine territories and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the country’s western frontier that includes Kalayaan Island Group in Palawan and Panatag Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in Zambales, and Benham Rise on the eastern seaboards.
Trinidad said the plan has actually been in the planning board of the navy for quite sometime.
“If I’m not mistaken, five to eight years ago, pinag-uusapan na ito sa level ng Philippine Navy sapagkat at that time, tumataas na yung ating mga requirements for external defense. And while the AFP was focused on the internal environments, ang Philippine Navy ay namamatyagan na namin na kailangan, we have to strengthen our naval operating commands, particularly of which is the Naval Forces West,” Trinidad said in a telephone interview with Palawan News on Tuesday.
“So from the planning board, nag-recommend tayo sa GHQ (General Headquarters) and tamang-tama naman, pagpasok ng current administration, may shift to external defense and may CADC (Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept) naman sa DND so halos nagsabay-sabay itong mga ito,” he explained.
He said the two naval forces play important roles in securing the country’s rights and sovereignty in WPS which made the defense department decide to make the upgrade, in line with the CADC.
Trinidad further stated that the plan has actually been on its implementation stage and only the administrative aspect is being scheduled.
He also said that despite the upgrade, Navforwest will remain under the operational control of Western Command (Wescom) as its naval component.
Among the changes included in the upgrade include the transformation of its commander to a higher rank from Commodore to REar Admiral, additional personnel, and assets.
“There will be an increase in number of personnel but the bigger increase will be on the capability sapagkat sa modernong digmaan ngayon, hindi na ito paramihan ng tao kundi palakasan ng capability – cyber command and control domain awareness,” he stated.
“Kasama na rin dyan yung increase ng floating assets sapagkat may mga parating din tayong bago. May mga naka-lineup naman tayo and his year, may dalawang parating and then two every year until 2028,” he added.
Moreover, he said Navforwest continues its enhancement of capabilities and domain awareness, especially in the cyber security component and its engagements with allied forces through joint exercises.
He also said that with the upgrade of Navforwest, they are also discussing the possibility of establishing a West Philippine Sea Command which was proposed by Senator Francis Tolentino.
“Hindi lang naman kasi only what we have internally sa AFP but we also welcome all suggestions and inputs from our political leaders so kasama ito sa pinag-aaralan,” he said.
He likewise said they expect Wescom to also continue to perform its mandate, being the frontliner in the external defense of the country along with Northern Luzon Command.
“Itong dalawang unified command na ito ay nasa forefront ng ating effort to ensure the integrity of our national territory,” he concluded.
