PCG recruiting more volunteers in coastal barangays for disaster response, commandant says

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it is recruiting more auxiliaries in barangays near coastal areas to heighten maritime safety and environmental protection.

“Ngayon ay nagre-recruit tayo ng volunteers o auxiliaries sa coastal barangays para naman meron din tayong mga mata at makapag-respond tayo immediately sa kahit anong klase ng sakuna—whether it’s a search and rescue mission or environmental protection mission,” PCG Commandant Admiral Leopoldo Laroya said during the Laging Handa press briefing.

(We are recruiting volunteers or auxiliaries in coastal barangays so we will have more eyes and respond immediately in any kind of disasters.)

Laroya said they are working with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for this project, adding that if they have events in the provinces, they'll make sure to be present in conducting the oath-taking ceremony of the coastal volunteers.

On Monday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade personally led the oath-taking of more than 250 new coastal auxiliaries based in General Santos City.

“Malaking bagay sa amin, sa akin na makasama ko kayo, upang sa gano’n, magkapit-bisig tayo na pangalagaan ang safety and security of the Philippine sea, makiisa at tumulong sa PCG sa rescue and relief operations, pangalagaan ang katubigan at karagatan upang matulungan natin ang ating mga kapitbahay, sambayanan, at mahal sa buhay sa kanilang paghahanap-buhay sa karagatan,” he said.

(This is a big thing for us to be with you so we can work together in protecting the safety and security of the Philippine seas, in helping the PCG during rescue and relief operations, and in protecting the seas so we can help our neighbors, people, and our loved ones in their livelihoods.)

Tugade said these volunteers would help strengthen PCG’s mission and mandate in protecting the Philippine seas.

“They may be volunteers but they are a very important part of the PCG in helping [us] do our mission in maritime safety and public service,” Laroya added. — Giselle Ombay/RSJ, GMA News