BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and the Philippine Navy are strengthening their strong alliance in Western Visayas, in terms of humanitarian assistance and disaster response, following the recent visit of Navy ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz in Boracay island.
Maj. Gen. Eric Vinoya, 3ID commander, said that the recent visit of BRP Ramon Alcaraz to the territorial waters of Western Visayas aims to enhance the cooperation of the Philippine Army and the Navy in the region.
“Our mutual understanding will take us a long way to effectively and efficiently carry out our respective tasks. Collaborative approaches between and among government services is a must,” Vinoya said in a statement issued by the 3ID Public Affairs Office.
While the Philippine Navy and the Army have distinct functions, Vinoya said they shared a common mandate in peace and security efforts, and non-traditional roles in humanitarian assistance and disaster response. BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) is the second ship of the Gregorio del Pilar-class offshore patrol vessels of the Philippine Navy that can propel the ship to a speed of up to 28 knots.*
