On a windswept pier in Subic Bay, once the site of the United States’ largest overseas naval installation, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr stood before a newly minted guided-missile frigate and declared that his country would “not surrender anything” in defence of its maritime sovereignty.
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The commissioning of two naval vessels – including the 3,200-tonne (3,500-ton) Miguel Malvar – on the Philippine Navy’s 127th founding anniversary on Tuesday was more than ceremonial. It marked a bold signal of Manila’s intent to modernise its maritime capabilities and project strength in contested waters.
But the additions will prove meaningful only if they are paired with a cohesive strategy and deeper coordination with defence partners, analysts warn.
The Miguel Malvar is a guided-missile frigate, measuring over 100 metres (330 feet) in length and outfitted with a 76mm (3 inch) Oto Melara main gun, C-Star surface-to-surface missiles and Blue Shark anti-submarine torpedoes.
A sister ship, the Diego Silang, is set to be delivered later this year by South Korea’s HD Hyundai under a 28 billion peso (US$503 million) procurement deal signed in 2021.
Also commissioned was the Albert Majini, a high-speed patrol craft locally assembled under the navy’s Littoral Combat Force. The eighth vessel in the Acero-class series, it honours a fallen naval officer recognised for his gallantry during anti-piracy operations in the southern Philippines.