PMAAAI lauds Navy officer who brought home BRP Ramon Alcaraz

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 18): PMAAAI lauds Navy officer who brought home BRP Ramon Alcaraz

Capt. Ernesto Baldovino, the naval officer who skippered home the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16), the second Hamilton-class cutter in the country's fleet, received the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association Inc's (PMAAAI) 2017 Award for Naval Operations Saturday.

Baldovino, a member of PMA Class of 1991, was given this honor for his "distinct' service in naval operations contributed to the attainment of the AFP-DND (Armed Forces of the Philippines-Department of National Defense), and his outstanding service reputation has conspicuously enhanced the institutional prestige of the PMA and its graduates."

"His exemplary portfolio of missions accomplished in territorial defense, force level command and control, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, civil-military operations for national development, and international defense and security engagements, immensely advanced the Navy's mandate of protection of the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity, thus resulting to the enhanced collective security and general welfare of Filipinos in a maritime defense environment," his citation further read.

Baldovino is also known for safely sailing home the BRP Ramon Alcaraz in Aug. 8, 2013 after a three-month voyage from Charleston, South Carolina which are served as the shakedown cruise and training of the ship's officers and enlisted personnel.

BRP Ramon Alcaraz and her two sister frigates, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Andres Bonifacio (FF-17) is capable of patrolling and protecting the country's vast coast lines which measures 36,289 kilometers.

These ships weigh 3,250 tons, has a length of 378 feet, beam of 43 feet, and draft of 15 feet.

Their propulsion systems consist of two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines, giving it a top speed of 29 knots.

They also have a cruising range of 22,530.816 kilometers and has a sea and loiter time of 45 days.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965192