BUTUAN CITY – A decommissioned Philippine Navy vessel will soon become a tourist attraction in Dinagat Islands after Governor Nilo Demerey Jr. received approval for its transfer, officials said Monday.

Demerey confirmed the approval of his October 2022 request to acquire the BRP Rizal (PS-74), which required clearance from the US State Department due to its American origins.

"We're scheduled to meet Philippine Navy officials this week to process the transfer documents," Demerey told the Philippine News Agency.

The World War II-era vessel, originally the USS Murrelet (AM-372), will be repurposed as a floating museum, hotel, and educational facility for local and foreign tourists.

The Auk-class minesweeper served in the Korean War before being transferred to the Philippines in 1965 under US military assistance. It was decommissioned in January 2020.

"People of Dinagat are grateful to both US and Philippine administrations for this approval," Demerey said, noting the project's potential to boost local tourism. (PNA)