BRP Miguel Malvar (PS19) and BRP Magat Salamat (PS20) corvettes (photo : PN)
BRP Miguel Malvar (PS19) (photo : PN)
Sangley Point, Cavite City- After years of service to the Philippine Navy and our maritime nation, the Philippine Navy (PN) through the Philippine Fleet (PF) decommissions BRP Miguel Malvar (PS19) and BRP Magat Salamat (PS20) on December 10, 2021 at Captain Salvo Pier, Naval Base Heracleo Alano. The joint ceremony was presided by the Flag Officer In Command, Vice Adm. Adeluis S Bordado PN assisted by the Commander, Philippine Fleet, Rear Adm. Alberto B Carlos PN. Also in attendance were former Commanding Officers of PS19 and PS20.
“As we obtain and plan for more advanced assets in the coming years, it is essential that we remember our obligation, not only the necessity, but the obligation to modernize the mindsets of our personnel. Modern vessels demand personnel who possess adequate and competent training in maneuvering and maintaining our new vessels,” Vice Adm. Bordado said.
“Again, along with the Officers and Sailors who boarded these vessels, I thank BRP MIGUEL MALVAR (PS19) and BRP MAGAT SALAMAT (PS20) for their outstanding contribution to the defense of the Filipino nation,” he added.
BRP Magat Salamat (PS20) (photo : Wiki)
Fleet Commander, Rear Adm. Carlos also said in his remarks, “Both vessels are considered as the oldest active fighting ships in the world and I give credit to the officers and men, past and present, for their resilience and diligence in keeping both vessels in operationally-ready condition throughout the years of serving and protecting the Filipino people."
The former BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) was the lead ship of its class of corvettes in the Philippine Navy. She was named after the last Filipino revolutionary general who surrendered to the Americans during the Philippine-American War. Meanwhile, Magat Salamat was the Datu of Tondo in the late 16th century and was one of the sons of Rajah Lakandula, a native ruler of Tondok (a large part of which is now Tondo, Manila), who fought Spaniards during the early years of Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
The Philippine Navy gradually implemented the decommissioning of PN legacy assets in line with the Secretary of National Defense's guidance to decommission all legacy assets of the PN to pave way for the arrival of newer platforms in line with the AFP Modernization Program. This is in support to the PN’s capability development program aimed towards the acquisition of modern platforms equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and combat management systems.
Said decommissioning signifies the Command’s departure from the management of a legacy navy to focus on the enhancement of our naval capabilities. Furthermore, this activity symbolizes the organization’s transition towards a modern and multi-capable navy that the Command envisions.
These are all part of the Phase in-Phase out Program of the Philippine Navy. We are decommissioning our legacy ships to pave the way for the arrival of new ones.
The ceremony was conducted under the new normal condition with strict adherence to health and biosafety protocols to prevent the spread of Covid-19.