FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila - The Philippine Army officially unveils new watercrafts in a blessing ceremony here today, today, July 28, 2020.
The new boats are intended to augment the existing water navigation mobility assets of the Army used in patrol and troop insertion operations. A single boat was put on display for the blessing ceremony.
Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Rowen Tolentino represented the Commanding General Lt. Gen. Gilbert I. Gapay during the official turn-over of the boats to Special Forces Regiment (Airborne) Commander Brig. Gen. Lincoln Francisco T. Tagle. The new assets will boost the counter-terrorism and the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response operations of SFR(A) especially in priority areas in Mindanao.
The boats can load at least eight individuals in full battle gear and has a minimum speed of 25 knots. A total of 52 boats are earmarked for acquisition.
“Our pursuit for modernization will ensure that the Army is capable of facing various threats in the security environment and when we perform our non-traditional military roles during disasters. We aim that through modernizing our command capabilities, the Philippine Army can better serve the people and protect the nation from whatever challenges there may be,” remarked Gapay.