The Philippine Navy has recently conducted missions to improve maritime security in the northern borders of the country. The navy launched a water desalination system on the farthest island of Itbayat, Batanes and the BRP Conrado Yap, a Pohang-class corvette, transported troops, civilians and government components to the scattered islands of Batanes. Mavulis, the country’s northernmost island facing Taiwan, is manned by a marine unit guarding a small shelter. Additionally, the navy inaugurated new administrative and research buildings at Parola and Likas islands in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea. Vice Adm. Toribio Adaci Jr, witnessed the ribbon cutting and blessing of the facilities and visited Pag-asa Island, the largest outpost and the only one with a civilian population.
