Defense chief graces commissioning rite of US-donated navy vessels

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday, 11 September, graced the christening and commissioning ceremony of the BRP Valentine Diaz (PS177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS178), donated by the United States government under its Excess Defense Article program, at the Philippine Navy headquarters.

Teodoro underscored the need for the defense sector to revise and rehorizon the country's strategic defense approaches to become responsive to the "challenges of the times."

US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said the commissioning illustrates Washington's continued collaboration in pursuit of the modernization goals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

"The Philippines is the largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Indo-Pacific, merited by the ambitious agenda we have set together for our alliance," she said.