Navy ships to pick up PPEs from India on way home from Middle East

April 22, 2020

The Philippine Navy (PN) vessels deployed to assist the repatriation of Filipinos in Middle East were tasked to pick up personal protective equipment  (PPE) against the coronavirus disease 2019 in India as they began their journey back to the country.

Lt. Commander Maria Christina Roxas, Philippine Navy acting public affairs director, said BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao Del Sur , composing the Naval Task Force (NTF) 82 departed Port Sultan Qaboos, Muscat, Oman on April 21.

Roxas said the Philippine Navy contingents commenced their journey back to Manila upon getting the green light from higher authorities.

"NTF 82 left Oman ensuring that no members exhibit COVID-19 symptoms as precautionary measures were earlier beefed up to keep the vessels virus-free. They are expected to reach Manila in the third week of May," she said.

Roxas said "the vessels will make brief stop at Port Cochin, India to pick-up personal protective equipment donated by a foreign private company in coordination with the Office of the Civil Defense, the government’s agency that is mandated to consolidate all donations to the national government and the Department of Health in this COVID 19 pandemic."

"During the mission, the 400-man contingent led by Marine Colonel Noel Beleran made its historic milestone for the Navy, these include the historic sail on Indian Ocean by PN ships that validates its status as a Navy that is now capable to sustain operations across open oceans; and the port visits to Sri Lanka and Oman that paved the way to reinforcing diplomatic ties with these countries," she said.

It can be recalled that the Philippine Navy contingents were deployed to assist the repatriation of overseas Filipino workers in Middle East when after tension rose in the area after the United States killed an Iranian general early this year. Robina Asido/DMS