(File photo courtesy of Philippine Navy)
MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) will transport locally stranded individuals (LSIs) simultaneously with other naval missions to optimize the deployment of its ship assets.
PN public affairs office chief, Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, made this remark Tuesday when asked if the Navy still has sufficient ships to transport LSIs and carry out its other missions.
"With the limited number of assets, most of the transport mission for LSIs are in jibe with the other mission carried out by the ship (selected to transport LSIs) such as logistical support and sealift mission in order to optimize the deployment of our assets," she said in a message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Earlier, the Navy's strategic sealift vessel, BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) transported to Iloilo the 402 LSIs and three Filipino expatriates who were earlier picked up from India and Sri Lanka and delivered 2,508 boxes of personal protection equipment and other medical supplies to Cebu.
PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo called this humanitarian mission the biggest so far in terms of a Navy vessel transporting LSIs.
Roxas said the PN will continue to support ongoing government efforts to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. (PNA)
