CHRISTENING. A bottle of wine is about to be broken on the hull of the MRRV-9701 as part of its commissioning as "BRP Teresa Magbanua" by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday (May 6, 2022). The vessel, the first of two such vessels procured from Japan, is considered the largest in the PCG fleet and is seen to boost the uniformed service's maritime capabilities.(Photo courtesy of PCG) MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has formally commissioned its newest and largest vessel "BRP Teresa Magbanua", a 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) made by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan. During the commissioning ceremony on Friday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade highlighted how the newest addition to the PCG fleet would boost its capability to perform "humanitarian" missions and address its "safety concerns and commitments" in Philippine waters. The new vessel, with the designation MRRV-9701, has a maximum speed of 24 k
VIRTUAL SUMMITS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his remarks during the plenary session of the virtual 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summits and Related Summits hosted by Brunei Darussalam at the Malacanang Palace on Oct. 26, 2021. Duterte has enjoined his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to hasten the procurement of additional vaccines and attend to the needs of the vulnerable groups amid the Covid-19 pandemic. (Presidential photo by Arman Baylon) MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has enjoined his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to hasten the procurement of additional vaccines and attend to the needs of the vulnerable groups amid the prevailing coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Duterte made the call during his intervention at the 38th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on Tuesday. Acknowledging that the fight against Covid-19 is far from over, Duterte said the 10-member Asean bloc should stand united to defeat the drea