US submarine arrives in Subic

MANILA, Philippines — The United States Navy's USS Michigan (SSGN 727), an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine, arrived in Subic Bay on Tuesday to replenish its supplies.

The vessel's sailors will also take advantage of the routine port call for rest and relaxation and undertake community activities.

Crew of USS Michigan, part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and homeported in Puget Sound, Washington, is scheduled to visit a public school catering to the disabled.

The US Embassy in Manila said that the submarine's visit "highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines."

The Michigan is commanded by Capt. Erik A. Burian and crewed by approximately 150 sailors.

On Monday, San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD-18) stopped at Manila's South Harbor also for a port call.

The visits came amid the resumption of talks between the Philippines and the United States on a proposed rotational presence of US troops.

"We hope to make significant progress at this round, not because of any perceived deadline, but because it is in our mutual interest to do so," Defense undersecretary Pio Lorenzo Batino told reporters shortly before the opening of the two-day meeting on Monday.