Manila: The United States government has committed to deliver a second patrol frigate to the Philippines following the delivery late last year of a similar warship.
The arrival of another Hamilton Class patrol frigate is expected to boost the Philippine Navy's strength.
Earlier in December, the navy formally commissioned its first Hamilton Class frigate, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar. At 3,250 tonnes, the vessel is the biggest in the Philippine fleet and provides the navy with the capability to sail and conduct missions over long distances.
Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said that the Philippine navy would accept the delivery of the second frigate soon. Earlier, security officials said a total three such ships had been committed by the US government under the US Excess Defence Articles Act.
"The United States government will deliver a second warship to the Philippines within this year to guard the country's waters," Lacierda said.
Defence capabilities
But Lacierda emphasised that the country's neighbours shouldn't worry about the acquisition of another warship noting that the arrival of the new ship is just part of a programme by the Philippine military to free up its defence capabilities.
"They shouldn't be concerned because primarily it's about protecting our external waters. That shouldn't be a concern for our neighbours because primarily it's for the protection of our waters," he said.
Equipped with a rescue and patrol helicopter as well as an automatic cannon, the BRP Gregorio del Pilar was deployed by the Navy in the West Philippine Sea, an area where frequent intrusions by Chinese vessels have been noted.
Hamilton Class vessels such as the BRP Gregorio del Pilar can easily be fitted with the Phalanx close in weapon system (CIWS), although the vessel as delivered was not equipped with such an armament.
Currently, the Philippine Navy, despite the delivery of the Hamilton, does not have anti-aircraft capabilities.
The Phalanx is a weapon used to counter missiles launched from ships
More warships
According to defence officials, aside from the total three patrol frigates programmed for delivery, more ships are be acquired by the government to secure the energy projects at the Malampaya oil and gas fields off Western Philippines' Palawan.
During the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last November, she assured that the US would provide the Philippines second warship for its Navy.
Also members of the US Congress who visited the country last month said they would support the country's plan to acquire more warships from the US.
Once considered as the most well equipped sea arm in Southeast Asia, the Philippine Navy is hardly coping with the task of patrolling one of the biggest coastal waters in the world.
The Philippines is an archipelago and has a coastal area even bigger than that of the United States.
