SUBIC, ZAMBALES — The Philippine Navy (PN) dramatically upgraded its patrol capabilities today by officially placing its newest and most modern warship, the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), into active service.
The formal commissioning ceremony, held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at Naval Operating Base Subic, marks a significant step in the nation’s efforts to bolster its maritime security posture, particularly within its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, emphasized the frigate’s importance during a press briefing. “This [warship] will add to the capital ships of the PN that are capable of patrolling all the way up to our EEZ and even beyond,”
Trinidad confirmed, adding that the BRP Diego Silang is now the most advanced vessel in the fleet.
The new warship is a sister ship to the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), which was commissioned in May 2025. Both frigates were constructed by South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) as part of a PHP28 billion procurement contract signed in
December 2021.
The BRP Diego Silang is a substantial addition, weighing 3,200 gross tons and measuring 118.4 meters in length. It arrived in the Philippines in September 2025 before its formal integration into the service this week.
The commissioning is part of an ongoing, robust modernization program. Admiral Trinidad noted that the Navy expects a total of 10 more warships to be delivered over the coming years.
This includes six offshore patrol vessels (with two currently undergoing sea trials), two landing dock platforms being constructed by Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL, and two additional frigates that are currently in the discussion phase for procurement. (PNA)