Marcos cites crucial presence of PCG in WPS

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday underscored the crucial presence of the Philippine Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea in defending the country's sovereign rights in the region.

Marcos made the remark during the oath-taking ceremony of the newly promoted PCG officers.

''But perhaps nowhere is your presence more crucial, than in the West Philippine Sea. Your continued patrols across the Kalayaan Island Group, the Philippine Rise, and our other maritime zones reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our sovereign rights,'' Marcos said.

''What you are doing is not only protecting territory. What you are doing is not only protecting citizens. You are defining for the rest of the world the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. And having done so, you are defending that territory. That is the importance of what the job has become for Philippine Coast Guard,'' he added.

Marcos also said the missions are declarations: ''We will always stand for what is ours, and we will do so with dignity, with integrity, [and] with strength.''

The President said the PCG has conducted 130 maritime patrols and domain awareness activities.

''You likewise distributed 36 high-speed rigid boats across PCG districts, reinforcing our rapid deployment and interdiction capabilities. More importantly, you harnessed the power of cooperation, of goodwill, and diplomacy in guarding our territory,'' he said.

From January 2024 to March 2025, Marcos said the PCG conducted 2.72 million inspections, 44,777 seaborne missions, and patrolled over 3.1 million square nautical miles—''demonstrating its vast responsibility and firm resolve.''

Marcos vowed that his administration would stand with PCG in boosting its capabilities through advanced vessels and new technologies. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News