Coast Guard, Customs enhance relation for border control, anti-smuggling efforts

The Philippine Coast Guard and the Bureau of Customs has strengthened their cooperation to intensify border control and prevent smuggling activities within the country's waters.

The two government agencies inked a memorandum of agreement on September 10 for the joint manning and operation of a total of 20 fast patrol boats of the BOC.

"We are honored to further collaborate with the Bureau of Customs in deterring and preventing illegal activities in our country’s waters. Rest assured that we will pursue our commitment in keeping the Philippine maritime jurisdiction safe and secured,” PCG commandant Admiral George Ursabia said in a press release on Friday.

Under the agreement, which is effective for five years, the BOC shall have the authority to deploy the fast patrol boats for law enforcement missions while the PCG will share its technical expertise in operating and navigating said floating assets.

The PCG must also ensure that knowledge and skills are efficiently shared to BOC personnel.

Meanwhile, the BOC is responsible for allocating funds for the daily preventive maintenance of equipment or machines onboard, the procurement of spare parts and other consumables, as well as dry docking and other repair activities.

During natural calamities or emergencies, the PCG may also utilize the floating assets for the conduct of search and rescue operations, provided that it is properly-coordinated with the BOC.

Each fast boat shall be manned by nine crew members, including five BOC personnel and four PCG non-officers who satisfactorily completed the Small Boat Operation and Management Course.

BOC chief Rey Guerrero expressed gratitude to the PCG for their support in eradicating illegal activities within the Philippines' maritime jurisdiction.

“I look forward to the successful implementation of this agreement. I am grateful to the Philippine Coast Guard for assisting us in the enforcement of laws pertaining the border control, prevention of entry of smuggling, and other customs fraud that hinders the growth of our national economy,” Guerrero said. —AOL, GMA News