In the recent past, it can be recalled that the Philippine Fleet through the Naval Air Wing has deployed one unmanned Aerial System together with its flight crew to Wescom Joint Operations Area on August 15, 2022.
With the entire system now in place, the Alpha Flight of the Maritime Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Squadron (MUARS) 71 headed by its Mission Commander, LT Joecarnine B. Pulangas PN will be placed under the Operational Control of Joint Task Force Malampaya.
Aside from conducting intensified Maritime Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance in Northeastern Palawan, these air assets will be particularly deployed to protect and secure the Malampaya Natural Gas-To-Power Project (MNGPP) in the Wescom's area of responsibility.
"We are beefing up the capabilities of the Joint Task Force Malampaya to ensure that we can protect the country's crown jewel, the MNGPP, from all forms of threats," Vice Admiral Alberto B Carlos PN, the Commander Wescom said.
"In doing so we can safeguard the MNGPP's unimpeded operations and sustain the country's energy requirements," Vice Admiral Carlos added.
Wescom's Joint Task Force Malampaya secures the country's energy and economy in countless ways, including reducing oil imports, ensuring a more stable supply of cleaner energy from an indigenous resource, and meeting up to 20 percent of the country’s energy needs.
"With the ScanEagle UAS, Wescom will now have a persistent eye in the sky for JTFM's operations," Vice Admiral Carlos said. (PR-WESCOM)
