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With Rear Admiral ARMANDO L. GUZMAN AFP, Commander of the Naval Forces Western Mindanao as Presiding the Officer, the Signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the Navy, The Southern Philippines (SOPHIL) Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. and other owners of fishing corporations took place last July 12, 2012 at the NFWM Officers Club, ROMULO ESPALDON, Naval Station.

In the short program that was held for the occasion, Capt EUGENE P CASTILLA, the command chaplain gave the Invocation while CDR CARLITO C LOMBOY PN (GSC) AC of S for Operation gave the Welcome Remarks and the backgrounder of the SCAA activation.

Naval Forces Western Mindanao was tasked by Southern Command  now Western Mindanao Command  since July 1992 to administer and supervise the 1st Zamboanga City Special Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA) Company. On February 2006, the administration and supervision of the 7th Zamboanga City SCAA company composed of 88 SCAA personnel formerly under the Special Forces Regiment was transferred to NFWM per Southcom Letter Directive Nr. OU3-0102-003-006 dated February 2009. On December 11, 2007 Western Mindanao Command transferred the Administrative Control and Supervision of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Zamboanga City SCAA company composed of two hundred sixty-four (264) SCAA personnel. However, with this pool of SCAA units and their personnel transferred to NFWM, it was found that there is no Memorandum of Agreement signed between NFWM and Southern Philippines Deep Sea Fishing Association, Inc. (SOPHIL), which is the legal requirement in the activation of the SCAA unit that will likewise cover SCAA Units that were transferred from the 1st ID, PA to the Command.

NFWM prepared a MOA based on the existing provisions of the AFP LOI 09-2005 (Tanggol Bayan Delta). It was submitted to HPN on May 2, 2012 for comments and approval and was approved on June 19, 2012 thru a reply letter from Flag Officer In Command (FOIC). The MOA was found to be legally in order both in form and substance and is in accordance with the existing policies and provisions pertaining to the organization and activation of SCAA’s, thus, with the blessing of Higher Headquarters the SCAA MOA ( a guide for the respective parties responsibilities) was singed by the concerned parties on July 12, 2012.

Present during the signing were: NFWM Commander RADM ARMANDO L GUZMAN AFP, Western Mindanao Command Deputy Comander  and Chairman of the WMC SCAA Oversight Committee BGen EUGENIO N CLEMEN AFP, Deputy Commander for Naval Operations, Capt BAYANI R GAERLAN PN (GSC) Deputy Commander for Marine Operations COL ARMANDO V. BANEZ PN (M) (GSC) Commander Reserve Center for Western Mindanao Col RAMON MABALOT PN (GSC) SOPHIL President STEPHEN LEE KAW, MELINA REQUINTO, MALCOLM LIM, NELSON FLORES, LEONARDO TAN, EUGENE FREDERICK YAP and other fishing representatives.