PCG: Stronger US partnership needed to stay well-equipped, secure advanced skills

Puerto Princesa City, Palawan - The Coast Guard District Palawan said Friday that a stronger partnership with the United States was necessary to keep the Philippine Coast Guard well-equipped, with an advanced level of training, and furnished with other tactical strategies needed to fulfill its mandate.

Coast Guard Lieutenant Gretch Mary Acuario of Coast Guard District Palawan made the observation ahead of US Vice President Kamala Harris' visit to the islands where she will engage with the fisherfolk community in Tagburos, Palawan, and later with the PCG on board BRP Teresa Magbanua.

“It is an honor and privilege to be visited by... US Vice President Kamala Harris. Our joint training with the US is actually continuous. They provide tactical casualty combat care training. Our Coast Guard personnel are well-equipped dahil sa tulong rin nila,” said Acuario.

Last April, Acuario had issued a radio challenge on a Chinese militia vessel spotted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.

“We expect that this visit will strengthen our partnership, especially now that we have this project of Buliluyan Vessel support facility which is US-funded. Malaking project po ito. We hope they will continue to provide training, kasi iyong training nila, advanced. It is not just first aid. Tactical combat casualty first aid po siya, combat diving, marksmanship, advanced, mas advanced po talaga iyong binibigay nilang training sa atin,” said the Coast Guard officer.

Aside from training, Acuario said the US government also provides medical kits and diving equipment.

Palawan province is adjacent to the resource-rich South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea.

Back in July 2016, the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines by rejecting China's nine-dash line claim.

The same ruling also declared the Spratly Islands, as well as the Panganiban (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and Recto (Reed) Bank as all within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), of which the Philippines and China are signatories.

The same Hague court decision also outlawed China’s action of preventing Filipino fishermen from fishing the Scarborough or Panatag Shoal, with the Hague court deeming Panatag as a common fishing ground for countries.

China, however, has refused to recognize the Philippines' unprecedented legal victory.

But for Acuario, US assistance to the Philippines was crucial with or without Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

“Regardless of the issues engulfing the West Philippine Sea, mas magandang may matatawag kang partner eh. Kasi humanitarian service ang mandate ng Coast Guard,” she said.

“Hindi lang tayo law enforcers. We help people affected by typhoons, flood victims. Coast Guard does a lot of things,” she added. — DVM, GMA Integrated News