PH, Malaysia coast guards tackle strengthening ties

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) discussed enhancing bilateral relations in a meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement Thursday, the PCG said the meeting on Wednesday was co-chaired by PCG’s chief of coast guard staff Rear Admiral Hostillo Arturo Cornelio and MMEA’s deputy director of the maritime enforcement and coordination division First Admiral Vincent Rajamony.

Agendas discussed during the meeting were port visits, the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF), a proposed Memorandum of Cooperation, and the Coast Guard Officer Senior Executive Course (CGOSEC).

The PCG invited the MMEA to visit the Philippines in the future for their collaborative relationship.

According to the PCG, they tackled the ongoing review of the ACF’s Terms of Reference and Concept Paper and the importance of Malaysia’s support in advocating for the ACF’s inclusion within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

Malaysia expressed interest in hosting the ACF in 2026, according to the PCG.

The PCG said the proposed Memorandum of Cooperation aims to boost collaboration between the Philippine and Malaysian in terms of information sharing, capacity building, and joint operations.

Also, the PCG said it is planning to offer specialized training courses for international students, including MMEA, starting in 2026. 

“The meeting reaffirmed the mutual commitment of both agencies to strengthen maritime cooperation, promote regional collaboration, and support initiatives that enhance interoperability and capacity-building in the maritime domain,” the PCG said.

The PCG delegation was on its second leg of its tri-country port visit in Malaysia. After Thailand and Malaysia, the PCG is set to visit Vietnam. —Joviland Rita/RF, GMA Integrated News