PCG: Sea, air assets patrol West Philippine Sea on 24/7 routine

The Philippine Coast Guard said Wednesday that modernized and additional maritime vessels and aircraft are continuously patrolling the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to help protect Filipino fishers in the area.

In a Laging Handa interview, PCG Commandant Admiral Leopoldo Laroya said they have organized the Task Force Pagsasanay in support of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, of which the coastguard is a part.

“Katuwang po natin ang Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), ‘yung kanilang vessels are also used para matulungan at maprotektahan natin ang mangingisda natin habang sila ay nasa parte ng ating Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)," Laroya said.

(We have partnered with the BFAR, and we also use its sea vessels in efforts to protect our fisherfolk within our EEZ.)   

"Tinutulunan din natin ang lahat ng mga Pilipino na gumagamit ng ating karagantan" (We also assist all Filipinos that are using our own seas), he added. 

Moreover, Laroya said that under his watch, the modernization of the PCG is a priority, noting that the organization's largest vessel from France is coming.

Likewise, the country is expecting the arrival of the second of two 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MMRVs) from Japan, acquired by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for the PCG under the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project Phase II.

Further, Laroya said that the PCG received two brand new choppers from Germany last year, and President Rodrigo Duterte recently inaugurated new sets of caravan aircrafts.

PCG is also expecting three additional aircrafts for maritime domain awareness and surveillance in the WPS, and for other operations.

Aside from the modernized vessels and aircrafts, Laroya also said they have increased PCG's employees, which is expected to be up to 30,000-strong by 2022.

“Nung nagsimula ang administration, nasa 6,400 lang po ang coast guard personnel, ngayon po, nasa 21,000 na tayo. Ang ibig sabihin noon na-triple ang number of personnel ng PCG,” he said.

(When the administration started, there were only about 6,400 coast guard personnel, but now we are at 21,000. This means that the number of PCG personnel has tripled already.)

Laroya thanked the countries that have expressed their support for the Philippines amid the Chinese actions against Philippine vessels in the WPS.

“Kailangan natin ‘to para palakasin lalo ang ating claims sa West Philippine Sea (We need their support to further fortify our claims in the WPS). With their support, we hope that we can pressure those that are bullying us in the form of coming up with our diplomatic pins in resolving the crisis,” he said.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, acting on a case filed by the Philippines, invalidated China's sweeping claims over the South China Sea. Beijing did not recognize this ruling.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Laroya as the 28th PCG commandant on September 28, and promoted him to admiral on November 9. —LBG, GMA News