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PN's second SSV, BRP Davao Del Sur, to be commissioned May 31MANILA, May 21 — The Philippine Navy's second strategic sealift vessel, the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), will be formally commissioned on May 31 at Davao City's Sasa Wharf in line with the celebration of PN's 119th founding anniversary.This was revealed by PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in an interview with the PNA Saturday.He added that President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to attend the ceremony as guest-of-honor and speaker along with other ranking defense and military officials.The BRP Davao Del Sur arrived off South Harbor, Manila last May 8 after departing from the PT PAL (Persero) shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia last May 4.She was named after the province of Davao Del Sur, the home of the country's highest peak Mount Apo and other rare species of flora and fauna."It gives due recognition to the province as sanctuary of natural wonders and rarities like the country’s highest peak Mt. Apo, the most prized Philippine orchid Vanda Sanderiana, and the endangered Philippine Eagle," Lincuna said,Also, the namesake takes inspiration from a former PN vessel of the same name notable for its accomplishments during during the 1980s."Naming the vessel after Davao Del Sur is consistent with its predecessor, BRP Tarlac (LD-601), which was also named after a province," Lincuna added.The ship was launched last Sept. 29. She is the sister ship of the BRP Tarlac (LD-601), currently the largest Filipino warship in commissioned.BRP Tarlac was commissioned during short ceremonies at Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last June 1.She arrived in the Philippines last May 14 after a five-day journey from PT PAL shipyard in Surabaya which started on May 9.BRP Davao Del Sur is also a Makassar-class landing platform dock like her sister ship BRP Tarlac.Its delivery completed the two-unit SSV procurement project with an approved budget contract of PHP4 billion sourced from the AFP Modernization Act Trust Fund.Just like the BRP Tarlac, the PN's latest SSV will serve as a floating command-and-control ship especially in the conduct of humanitarian assistance and disaster response and will also serve as a military sealift and transport vessel.The ship has an overall length of 120 meters,breadth of 21 meters, draft of five meters and can carry a payload of 2,800 tons.She has a cruising speed of 13 knots and maximum speed of 16 knots and a minimum operating range of 7,500 nautical miles.BRP Davao Del Sur can carry 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units and three helicopters. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
President Rodrigo Duterte today led the 119th founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy with the theme: ‘Protecting the Seas, Securing Our Future,’ at the Sasa Wharf in Davao City on May 31, 2017.In his message, the President refused to read the part of his prepared speech mentioning the recent acquisitions of military assets which were accomplished by the Aquino administration. He said he does not want to take credit.However, the President said he will strengthen the Armed Forces and will end his term with the military “a little bit stronger”.Among the highlights of the occasion was the commissioning to Navy service of the second Tarlac-class landing platform dock Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Davao Del Sur (LD-602).Tarlac-class vessels can carry 500 troops, two rigid-hull inflatable boats, two landing craft units, and three helicopters. They can also house and launch Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs), truck-based mobile hospital, and different types of military trucks.Also part of the highlights of the celebration was the capability demonstration of the newly acquired three Multi-Purpose Attack Crafts (MPACs) with missile armament provision.These MPACs will be fitted with with Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd’s Spike ER (extended range) in anti-ship mode capable of penetrating 1,000 mm (39 inches) of rolled homogeneous armor and has a maximum range of five miles.
BRP Davao Del Sur completes first mission in Benham RiseJune 13, 2017, 1:22 pm MANILA, June 13 -- Barely a month after her commissioning, the BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), the country's second strategic sealift vessel (SSV), has successfully conducted her first major mission by transporting the military and civilian divers who successfully planted at a shallow portion of the Benham Rise (now known as the Philippine Rise) Monday morning.This was confirmed by Navy spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the PNA Tuesday."Yes, (the Benham/Philippine Rise) mission was her first," he said.BRP Davao Del Sur left the PT PAL (Persero) shipyard in Surabaya, Indonesia in May 4 and arrived in the Philippines last May 8.She was commissioned at Sasa Wharf, Davao City during the Navy's 119th founding anniversary with President Rodrigo Duterte as the guest-of-honor and speaker.BRP Davao Del Sur is the sister-ship of the BRP Tarlac (LD-601) which commissioned in May of last year.The ship and her crew departed Pier 13, Manila South Harbor last June 8 with around 100 divers headed by Army Scout Ranger Major Christoper Constantino.The military officer and his team strapped a fiber-glass laminated Philippine flag 57 meters below the surface.Prior to this, a ship of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) lowered on Sunday a cement base where the flag and its pole were supposed to be hoisted. (Priam F. Nepomuceno/PNA)
Nine divers commissioned by the military’s North Luzon Command laid the laminated fiberglass flag on the bottom of the ocean 57 meters below the Philippine Navy’s newest warship, BRP Davao del Sur.
