Navy acquires new Coast Guard vessel from US

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Navy has acquired a Coast Guard vessel from the United States.

The Philippine embassy in Washington DC said the US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas was symbolically turned over by Rear Admiral John Korn, US Coast Guard assistant commandant for acquisition and chief acquisition officer, to Gen. Jessie Dellosa, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, during ceremonies held at Charleston, South Carolina last May 22.

Rear Adm. Jose Luis Alano, commander of the Philippine fleet; Brig. Gen. Cesar Yano, Philippine defense attaché to the US; and Capt. Elson Aguilar, naval attaché to the US also attended the turnover ceremony.

Dellosa had expressed the Philippine government’s gratitude for the US assistance in upgrading the country’s defense capabilities.

“As long standing allies, we have nurtured a military partnership that has become a significant cornerstone of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” Dellosa said.

Korn said US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas had served the American people well, from Vietnam and the Pacific to its final Coast Guard patrol in the Caribbean, where the crew interdicted 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 940 pounds of marijuana.

“As Dallas returns to the Southeast Asian waters that it plied at the beginning of its Coast Guard career, I know it will serve the Philippines as faithfully and capably as it served America,” Korn said.

Filipino crews are being trained and advised on the ship’s operations, including engineering and navigation. The Philippine Navy hopes the cutter, to be christened BRP Ramon Alcaraz, will arrive in the Philippines before the end of the year.