BRP Ramon Alcaraz ( PF - 16 ) BRP " Ramon Alcaraz " ( PF - 16 ) is a Philippine Navy Gregorio del Pilar class frigate . From 1968 to 2012 , it was known as and served the US Coast Guard as a high endurance cutter . It was decommissioned on 30 March 2012 and was acquired by the Philippines under the " Excess Defense Articles " and the Foreign Assistance Act . " Ramon Alcaraz " is the second of several ex - US Coast Guard that will serve the Philippine Navy . Design . The ship was designed with a high level of habitability and provides fairly comfortable accommodations , including air conditioning . Propulsion . " Ramon Alcaraz " employs the shipboard application of aircraft gas turbine jet engines with the use of controllable pitch propellers . She is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney gas turbines and can propel the ship at speeds up to . " Ramon Alcaraz " also has two Fairbanks - Morse diesel engines , capable of driving the ship economically at for up to without refueling . A retractable / rotatable bow propulsion unit provides maneuverability in tight situations . Armaments . Prior to turn - over to the Philippine Navy , the ship was armed with a Mk . 75 Oto Melara 76 mm Compact main gun , two Mk . 38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain gun at midships , and a Phalanx CIWS system aft . The CIWS and chain guns were removed prior to its turn - over , with the Mk . 75 gun remaining . The Philippine Navy purchased 2 new Mk . 38 mod 2 gun systems to install with the " Ramon Alcaraz " to replace the mounts removed by the US Coast Guard . Flight Support . The " Ramon Alcaraz " has a flight deck and hangar capable of handling helicopters . Transfer and Acquisition . Inspections . The Philippine Navy officially confirmed the Joint Visual Inspection ( JVI ) by its officials led by Rear Admiral Orwen Cortez of South Carolina - based Hamilton class cutter USCGC " Dallas " ( WHEC - 716 ) from 31 October to 5 November 2011 . The ship was scheduled to be transferred as an excess defense article through the Foreign Assistance Act via a " hot transfer " on May 2012 . Removal of Equipment . The " Dallas " was formally decommissioned on 30 March 2012 , and the US Coast Guard removed the ship ’ s Phalanx CIWS and 2 Mk . 38 M242 Bushmaster 25 mm chain guns , which will be used on their new National Security Cutters ( NSCs ) and Sentinel - class Fast Response Cutters , respectively . The USCG also removed the AN / SPS - 40 air search radar and will be used as spares for remaining " Hamilton " class ships . Naming . On 6 May 2012 during the 70th commemoration of the Fall of Bataan , President Benigno Aquino III announced the naming of the ex - USCGC Dallas to BRP " Ramon Alcaraz " in honor of the World War II hero and officer of the Philippine Navy . Commodore Ramon " Monching " Alcaraz commanded one of the Philippine Offshore Patrol ' s Q - boat Q - 112 " Abra " during World War II which shot down 3 Japanese aircraft . Transfer to the Philippine Navy . The " ex - Dallas " was formally transferred to the Philippine government on 22 May 2012 during a ceremony at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Pier Papa in North Charleston , South Carolina . The ship was turned over to its Filipino crew , with Capt . Ernesto Baldovino as its first commanding officer . The ship ' s crew had been in the US for several weeks prior to the transfer for training aboard other " Hamilton " class ships operated by the US Coast Guard . The " Ramon Alcaraz " is scheduled to be refitted at the expense of the Philippine Navy prior to sailing to the Philippines . The ship ' s transfer cost was pegged at Php 450 million ( around US $ 10 million as of 2012 ) , while operation costs will be similar to its sister ship , the " del Pilar " . An additional US $ 5 million was allocated for installation of additional equipment , different from her sister ship BRP " Gregorio del Pilar " . The ship will have better fire control and weapons systems than the " del Pilar " . The ship was originally expected to leave Charleston , South Carolina for the Philippines on January 2013 . As of December 2012 , it was not expected to arrive until March or early April 2013 because the installation of the new engine needed to be completed . This schedule was again moved to 3rd week of June 2013 due to prolonged training of its crews and additional upgrades and refitting works . Voyage to the Philippines . The ship departed Charleston harbor at 10 : 00 AM on 10 June 2013 . She tested her Oto Melara 76mm gun off the coast of Florida on 11 June 2013 , firing 15 rounds . She reached the Atlantic - side entrance of the Panama Canal and crossed its entire stretch on 17 June , and made a short refueling stop at Balboa , Panama on 18 June 2013 . She continued to the US west coast and docked at San Diego Naval Base on 28 June 2013 . The " Ramon Alcaraz " will continue her journey across the Pacific Ocean and is scheduled for port visits at Join Base Pearl Harbor - Hickam in Hawaii , and at Guam before reaching Manila by 3 August 2013 . Arrival in the Philippines . On August 1 , 2013 , " Ramon Alcaraz " entered the Philippine area of responsibility , and proceeded to the waters off Casiguran , Aurora on August 2 for welcome ceremonies at sea by the Philippine Navy , local government units and fisher - folks . She then traveled though the northern coasts of Luzon and proceeded to Bolinao , Pangasinan where she met by her sistership , the BRP " Gregorio Del Pilar " , and was escorted Subic Bay where her official arrival ceremony led by President Aquino was held on August 6 . Future Upgrades . The Philippines ordered new Mk 38 Mod 2 25mm stabilized remote - controlled gun systems and are expected to be installed on both ships of the class . PF - 16 , will undergo two - month dry - dock and repair before her commissioning on November .