MANILA — The two Philippine Navy (PN) ships, which are now headed for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises off Hawaii have more than sufficient stocks of Filipino food to tide them over in the almost two-month long maneuvers.
This was bared by PN spokesperson Capt. Lued Lincuna in a message to the Philippine News Agency Sunday.
“They have enough food provisions approved by (our) dieticians/nutrionists. They need (a) balance diet and enough nutrients to nourish them because it is a long voyage,” he added.
And while not knowing the exact composition of the food stocks carried aboard by the two ships, Lincuna said that it is purely nutritious Filipino food.
“They are carrying nutritious and (hearty) Filipino food,” he added.
The PN contingent, now called Naval Task Force RIMPAC, is composed of the 7,000 gross-ton strategic sealift vessel BRP Davao Del Sur (LD-602), and 3,000 gross-ton frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17) and a AgustaWestland AW-109 utility helicopter along with 700 sailors and marines.
It is commanded by Capt. Ernesto Baldovino while mission head will be Commodore Toribio Adaci. It left Cebu along with Malaysian frigate KD Lekiu last June 6.
And while enroute, to the Hawaii exercise area, the PN spokesperson said that there will be drills and exercises with other navies whom they will be meeting along the way.
“While enroute, there will be a series of drills and exercises with other navies. Travel time will depend on sea conditions and their group maneuvers at sea,” Lincuna added.
The Filipino ships and the Malaysian craft will link up with other navies (Indonesian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Navy) along the way for the ASEAN++ Group Sail to RIMPAC 2018.
Around 30 navies are expected in this year’s RIMPAC which is scheduled for June 27 to August 2. (Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
