The Area Task Force North (ATF-North) marked the 7th Philippine Rise Commemoration today with various activities started with a Send-off Ceremony at Poro Point, San Fernando, La Union, attended by representatives from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Air Force, and local government units .
The send-off ceremony for BRP JOSE RIZAL (FF150) was presided over by Commodore Edward Ike De Sagon PN, Commander of NFNL wherein Lieutenant General Fernyl G. Buca, PAF, Commander of Northern Luzon Command (NOLCOM) and concurrent head of ATF-North, served as the guest of honor and speaker.
Lieutenant General Buca urged the crew to defend the Philippine Rise, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Nation’s maritime domain for our future generations. “Ipagtanggol natin ang ating karagatan, ating karapatan, at ating kinabukasan” (“Let us defend our seas, our rights, and our future”), he said.
Our Seas, Our Rights, the Philippine Rise is well within our maritime entitlement. According to UNCLOS, Philippine Rise is part of the Philippine extended continental shelf and is ours to protect.
Our future, the Philippine Rise, is rich in marine resources and biodiversity making it important for scientific research and exploration. The plateau is believed to have marine resources such as nickel, manganese, copper and potential hydrocarbon reserves.
