MANILA – The Philippine Navy's (PN) decision to defer participation in various international events set for this year will allow its deployment of more assets to help the government's efforts in mitigating the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
"With the deferment of this international gathering, the PN is geared toward maximizing its capabilities to help mitigate the devastating effect of Covid-19. Sea, air and land assets are all in place for necessary deployment while sailors, marines, and reservists join the frontline of the inter-agency task force to help contain the spread of the virus," PN public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas said in a statement late Sunday.
Earlier, Navy flag-officer-in-command, Rear Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said that the country's hosting of the 17th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) and International Fleet Review (IFR) has been postponed to a later date due to the public health emergency.
The WPNS was supposed to be held in Manila this coming May 19 to 21 with the IFR being held off Manila Bay during the last day of the symposium.
These events were moved to a later date in the interest of health and safety in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The rapid increase of cases worldwide which also affect 21 WPNS member countries and eight observer states compelled the PN to defer the historic convergence of navy chiefs and warships in the country especially now that the Philippines is now under the state of public health emergency," Roxas added.
Other international maritime exercises that have been postponed because of Covid-19 include the ASEAN Navy Chiefs’ Meeting, ASEAN Multilateral Naval Exercise, and International Maritime Review. (PNA)
