By Priam Nepomuceno

MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) has begun the deployment of “surface action groups” or multiple naval vessels as part of intensified efforts to protect the country’s maritime territories.
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency Wednesday, PN spokesperson Captain John Percie Alcos said this move is part of the Navy’s focus on improving its warfighting capabilities.
“We will be veering away from the conduct of lone ship or ‘lone wolf’ operations, to the deployment of several warships at any given time. Now that we have a group of warships, which are (called) ‘surface action groups’ patrolling our seas, we can cover more of our areas and jurisdiction,” he said.
Alcos said the move is part of the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), a strategy that calls for the military to defend Philippine territories, including its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.
Asked if the PN “surface action groups” will be made part of the future “maritime cooperative activities” (MCA) with the United States naval forces or even the annual “Balikatan” exercises, Alcos said they welcome this move.
“If our planners for the ‘Balikatan’ or any other exercise consider this, then we will welcome the conduct of exercises involving the formation of ‘surface action groups’,” he added.
On Jan. 17 to 18, naval and air units from the Philippines and the United States held the first maritime cooperative activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for this year.
The MCA took place in the Palawan area of the WPS. (PNA)