Philippine Navy frigate BRP Andres Bonifacio, a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter, arrived to Philippines on Friday.
The ship made a brief stop at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on November 15 before making the final leg of the journey to Philippines.
Formerly known as USCGC Boutwell, BRP Andres Bonifacio was officially transferred to the Philippines during a July 21 ceremony at Coast Guard Base Alameda, California.
BRP Andres Bonifacio is an $8 million grant, but the Philippine Navy invested $16 million to modernize and outfit the cutter in the U.S. as part of the transfer program. The U.S. Coast Guard also benefited from the transfer by saving over $12 million in ship disposal costs.
Under the Excess Defense Articles program, assets no longer needed and declared excess by the U.S. Armed Forces may be offered at reduced or no cost to eligible foreign recipients on an “as is, where is” basis.
Andres Bonifacio is the third Hamilton class cutter in Philippine Navy service together with the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (FF-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (FF-16) which were acquired in 2011 and 2013, respectively.
The three ships are now known as the Gregorio Del Pilar-class frigates.