NAVAL STATION JOSE ANDRADA, Manila – The Philippine Navy (PN), through the Naval Reserve Command (NRC), inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with thr San Carlos Development Board Inc., (SCDB), the Julio Florentina Ledesma Foundation (JFLF), and the City Government of San Carlos, Negros Occidental for the donation of a 10-hectare land in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental on March 8.

NRC Commander, Maj. Gen. Joseph Ferrous Cuison, represented the PN in signing the MoU with San Carlos City Mayor Hon. Renato Gustilo, SCDB’s Mr. Jose Miguel Valmayor, and JFLF’s Dr. Bill Tusalem.

The 10-hectare land is primarily intended to strengthen and support naval operations in the Visayas Region particularly in the Naval Forces Central Area of Operations; and to establish a mobilization center for AFP reservists in the Northern Negros region of Western Visayas.

In an activity prior to the MoU signing, Mayor Gustilo expressed San Carlos City’s gratitude and honor to be considered as the site for the mobilization center, reiterating their commitment in collaborating with the PN through unwavering support and cooperation along the process.

Leveraging on the strength and the capability to extend NFC's operational reach and to promptly mobilize reservists is vital in improving efficiency and effectiveness in responding to the maritime security challenges in the region. Furthermore, this is an invaluable addition to strategic bases development in line with the PN's Active Archipelagic Defense Strategy supporting the lines of effort of the Department of National Defense's Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.

PUBLISHED BY:    Naval Public Affairs Office (NPAO) CDR JOHN PERCIE A ALCOS PN(GSC) Director, Naval Public Affairs Office