New Phl warship tweets, blogs voyage

MANILA, Philippines - Military officers on board the BRP Ramon Alcaraz will document the voyage of the country's new warship that is expected to arrive in the Philippines next month.

In a statement, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said three Philippine Navy officers were sent to the United States to join the crew of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and document its journey from San Diego to the Philippines.

The team is composed of three public affairs officers - Commander Gilbert Pacio, Navy Lieutenant Marineth Domingo, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Errol dela Cruz.

Valte said the three will share, through blogs and social media, their experiences aboard the newest ship of the Philippine fleet.

The BRP Alcaraz now has Facebook and Twitter accounts where the public can also follow the updates on the newest Philippine warship.

Updates on the BRP Alcaraz may also be read through the official Facebook pages and Twitter accounts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and of the Navy.

Articles will also be uploaded through a live blog on the Navy's official website and on the blog and Twitter account of dela Cruz.

The Official Gazette’s Twitter and Facebook accounts will likewise share onboard updates on Alcaraz.

"We encourage everyone to follow the updates on the BRP Alcaraz—the first of the Navy’s ships to be named in honor of a Philippine Naval officer—and learn about the life and experiences of the members of the Philippine Navy," Valte said.

The Palace official said the new warship will be a "good addition" to the Navy, amid the ongoing territorial disputes over the West Philippine Sea.

"It is a step in the right direction in terms of upgrading our hardware, our capabilities," Valte said at a press briefing. "This will certainly be a boost to our patrol abilities."

The BRP Alcaraz, with its 14 officers and 74 crewmembers, is now on her way to the Philippines and is set to arrive on August 3. Over the weekend, a post on its official Facebook page said the new warship is now en route to Hawaii.

The newest acquisition of the Navy is a 378-foot Hamilton-class weather high endurance cutter decommissioned by the US Coast Guard that had undergone retrofitting and refurbishment worth P620 million.

The vessel was named after Commodore Ramon Alcaraz, a Philippine Navy officer who distinguished himself in the Second World War. The ship is capable of conducting patrols for long periods of time and can withstand heavy weather and rough sea conditions.