In line with efforts to upgrade its existing naval facilities, the Philippine Navy (PN) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for bay dredging and other reclamation projects with the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA), reports the country’s news agency (PNA).
Signing on behalf of the Navy was PN flag-officer-in-command Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad while the PRA was represented by its general manager and chief executive officer, Atty. Janilo E. Rubiato.
Under the MOU, the PRA will assist the Navy in dredging the heavily-silted ingress/egress channel from Manila Bay up to pier approaches of naval facilities in Cavite, such as Naval Base Heracleo Alano and Naval Station Pascual Ledesma, including Cañacao and Bacoor Bays.
Commander Jonathan Zata, Navy spokesperson, said that the dredging will significantly increase the water depth and allow the accommodation of deep-draft vessels like the Del Pilar-class patrol ships and Tarlac-class landing docks.
The news agency also added that the PRA will guide and assist the PN in undertaking the reclamation and development of other parcels of lands of the public domain in Manila, Cavite and Cebu areas that are reserved for military and naval purposes by virtue of presidential proclamations.
In return, a portion of the reclaimed area will be taken by PRA to offset whatever expenses the agency incurs on the reclamation project.