MANILA, Philippines -- The USS Montgomery, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, departed Davao City on July 1. This was the ship’s first port visit to the Philippines during her first deployment.

During the visit, Montgomery hosted local military and civic leaders for an evening reception to celebrate the U.S.-Philippine alliance.

Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific, explained that Montgomery’s visit represents the shared commitment of the U.S. and Philippine navies.

During their time in Davao City, the crew of the Montgomery invited youth from the Davao branch of the Philippine Sports Commission aboard to tour the ship and meet crew members. To give back to the local community, sailors from the Montgomery and U.S. Embassy personnel donated rice to the House of Hope, a local home for children with cancer.

The ship’s visit to Davao from June 29 to July 1 continues the many years of close cooperation and exchange between the United States and the Philippines.

Fast, agile, and mission-focused, littoral combat ships are designed to operate in near-shore environments and are also capable of open ocean operation.