The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has ramped up its maritime safety capability improvement project(MSCIP) with the formal commissioning of the brand-new capital ship, BRP Melchora Aquino.

President Rodrigo Duterte led the formal commissioning of the BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) on June 12. It is the second 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) acquired by the DOTr and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), along with the first-commissioned BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701).

The two MRRVs are under the DOTr’s MSCIPPhase II, a Japanese-assisted project funded by official development assistance loan from the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

With the commissioning of the two MRRVs, the PCG is now more capable of conducting patrols in the country’s maritime jurisdictions, including the West Philippine Sea and Philippine Rise.

Apart from enhancing PCG’s maritime response capability in the Philippine waters, the MRRV will boost the agency’s search and rescue, maritime environment protection and other maritime operations.

One of the largest and most modern PCG vessels to date, the BRP Melchora Aquino is modeled after the Japan Coast Guard Kunigami-class vessel, which has a maximum speed of not less than 24 knots and an endurance of not less than 4,000 nautical miles.

Meanwhile, the DOTr and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have increased the number of night-rated airports to serve more passengers.

From 14 airports out of the total 43 commercial airports across the country that had night-landing capabilities in 2016,the DOTrsaid an additional nine airports have been night-rated, bringing the total to 23 night-rated airports to date.

It added that equipping airports with night-landing capabilities gives flexibility to provide travelers with more flight options, and helps allow more turnaround time for airlines, thereby decongesting the country’s premier gateway, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. – Myla Iglesias