THE Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Indonesia Border Committees expressed satisfaction on the result of their two-week Coordinated Patrol (Corpat) Philindo XXXII-2018 at The Pinnacle Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday, July 18.
Republic of Indonesia Border Committees (RIBC) vice-chair and Manado Main Naval Base 8 commander First Admiral Ahmadi Heri Purwono said the results of the coordinated naval patrol and reaffirmed cooperation ensures enhanced coordinated border security measures between the two countries.
Aside from that, Purwono said, the result of the activity has also provided humanitarian assistance to citizens of both countries in the future. He added that this was developed through the joint efforts of the two governments.
The Corpat Philindo XXXII-2018, which was concluded on Wednesday, was attended by Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Second Fleet, Indonesian Navy. The activity was done in two phases, one, was conducted in Manado City from April 5 to 29, and the second was conducted here in the city from July 5 to 20.
Easmincom commander Benjamin Madrigal said along with the maritime agencies, the navy of the two countries had enhanced its interoperability at sea resulting to the conduct of the 32 naval exercises and some shipboard evolution.
The exercises and shipboard evolutions were done along the common borders with total steaming time of 542 hours and 28 minutes covering 5,454 nautical miles, Madrigal said, adding that the coordinated naval patrol was also able to jibe the repatriation of 31 fisher folks from Indonesia to its families with assistance from the concerned governments.
Along the sea-based exercises, civic action and sea-based exercise, civic action and medical assistance activities were also conducted in Barangay Tibanban in Governor Generoso town, Davao Oriental as part of the land-based activities.
Madrigal said the services included a medical and dental check-up, veterinarian, fisheries forum, distribution of 1,000 assorted seedlings, and on-site registration to Indonesian expatriates. He added that the Consulate of Indonesia was also able to conduct documentation and provided passports to qualified Indonesian citizens.
The civil-military activity benefitted a total of 433 medical and 258 dental patients, while around 800 mangroves were planted in the same barangay in Davao Oriental.