On 16 May it was reported that in response to increased Chinese activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) a bill has been tabled in the Philippines Senate to reform and modernise the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG). It was tabled by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian whose Senate Bill (SB) 2650, seeks to repeal Republic Act (RA) 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009.
“This measure seeks to strengthen PCG’s capability by enhancing its organizational structure and enabling it to attract qualified personnel,” Gatchalian said in a news release on Wednesday.
He said the bill also aims to better equip the PCG to fulfill its mandate, “considering the importance of having a well-mannered and responsive institution to meet regional and international challenges related to the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.”
The PCG, initially established as a major unit of the Philippine Army in 1967, transitioned to civilian administration, moving from the Office of the President to the Department of Transportation in 1998.
The proposed measure specifically seeks to repeal RA 9993 and replace it with the Revised Philippine Coast Guard Law. Senator Gatchalian noted that gaps in organisational structure, administration, and ensuring personnel welfare have negatively impacted PCG operations.
“For one, RA 9993 is silent on the benefits of both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of PCG given the transfer from the Philippine Navy to the Department of Transportation,” he said.
Senator Gatchalian had earlier filed a separate bill, SB 2516, seeking to enhance the PCG’s assets and facilities and to bolster its capabilities and to develop a more mobile and visible coast guard force that will establish its vision to become a world-class guardian of the sea by 2025.
In another development in the House of Representatives, Speaker Martin Romualdez asked the PCG to submit a comprehensive strategic modernisation plan that outlines the necessary steps and resources required to enhance its capabilities, particularly for patrolling and safeguarding the WPS. Speaker Romualdez, himself a commodore of PCG Auxiliary, said the modernisation plan will be used as a major basis for allocation of budget for PCG.
“Our national security and sovereignty are paramount,” Romualdez in a statement on Thursday.
“By ensuring that our Coast Guard is well-equipped and well-funded, we can better protect our territorial integrity against external threats and assert our sovereign rights in these contested waters,” he added.
He said the plan should detail the current state of the PCG’s assets, projected needs for upgrades in vessels and equipment, training programs for personnel, and initiatives for regional cooperation and maritime law enforcement.
“The House of Representatives is committed to backing the Philippine Coast Guard in its vital role. It’s not just about responding to immediate threats but also about maintaining a presence that underscores our commitment to national and regional security,” Speaker Romualdez said.
This initiative, he said, is a part of the broader agenda of the Marcos administration to bolster national defense and regional stability, reflecting the legislative commitment to enhancing the Philippines’ defensive posture in the face of evolving maritime challenges.
On 17 May the Philippines and Japanese Government signed an agreement for the acquisition of five additional 97-metre class patrol vessels for the PCG. The procurement of multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) will be financed by a JPY64.38 billion Japanese official development assistance (ODA) loan under the third phase of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (MSCIP) for the PCG.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo signed the exchange of notes at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) office in Pasay City.
“As the situation surrounding the Philippines has continuously been serious, PCG is standing in a frontline for protecting our common interests and rules-based maritime order,” Endo said in a speech.
The DFA said the support, which covers the development of required support facilities for the PCG, will also improve PCG’s capabilities in addressing transnational crimes.
“This occasion signifies not only the deepening of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan but also underscores our unwavering commitment to enhance our maritime safety capabilities for the benefit of our nation and the broader maritime community,” Secretary Manalo said.
The PCG previously acquired ten 44-metre class and two 97-metre class MRRVs under Japan and the Philippines’ MSCIP Phase I and II.
The two 97-metre patrol ships BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Teresa Magbanua, the biggest in the PCG fleet, have been used to patrol the West Philippine Sea and have escorted civilian boats resupplying Filipino troops stationed at the rusting BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal.
Japan is the Philippines’ top bilateral ODA partner, with its long history of support for Philippine development priorities spanning infrastructure, health, human resources, agriculture, education, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, among many others.
Source: Philippines News Agency
BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Malapascua on patrol (source PCG)
