PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — Two amphibious assault vehicles from the Armed Forces of the Philippines showcased their land and water capabilities in a demonstration held here.

The vehicles departed on Friday, 3 November, from a landing dock ship anchored in Oyster Bay and made their way to Cabayugan village beach, illustrating their prowess in both combat and humanitarian roles.

Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos, the commander of the Western Command explained the vehicles are designed for use by marines and amphibious forces in transporting troops and equipment from ships to shore during amphibious operations.

Amphibious assault vehicles are not limited to warfare applications, he said, explaining they are equally valuable in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.

The operation of the newly-acquired vehicles by the Philippine Marine Corps was coordinated with the 3rd Marine Brigades Marine Battalion Landing Team-9 and the Philippine Navy's landing dock BRP Davao del Sur.

"They have come together here in the Western Command, and we want to ensure that they can work together seamlessly. The goal is for us to carry out an amphibious operation. It's essential for them to undergo training so that they can understand each other," he explained.

The collaboration is aimed at strengthening the province's defense capabilities and enhancing its capacity to provide crucial assistance during local disaster relief and recovery operations.

During a proficiency landing demonstration and training activity along the shores of Puerto Princesa, Carlos personally observed the interoperability of the units involved.

He emphasized the importance of training and coordination for successful amphibious operations, noting the complexity of such endeavors.

"Amphibious operations are highly complex, requiring coordination between the ship and the launching of the AAV. Today, we have seen that they are working effectively and closely with each other, and we're pleased with the results. This is just the beginning of more training activities like this in the Western Command," Carlos remarked.

Before the training activity, Carlos held a briefing session with key military personnel, including Commodore Alan Javier, Commander Marco Sandalo, Colonel Wilfredo Manalang, 1Lt. Carlos Alingcayon, and other officials.