Bill seeking higher salary, benefits to Coast Guard filed in House

A bill granting the Philippine Coast Guard the same salary and benefits, among other compensation, being enjoyed by the military and the police has been filed in the House of Representatives.

House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima of ML party-list made the proposal under House Bill 5131 or the Revised Philippine Coast Guard Law, citing the increasing tensions in the West Philippine Sea and the strategic importance of the Philippine maritime domain.

Aside from mandating to align salaries, ranks, and benefits of PCG uniformed personnel with those of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP), De Lima’s bill provides for the following:

• strengthened organizational structure by creating three core functional commands – Maritime Safety Services Command, Marine Environmental Protection Command, and Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command – with appropriate support, operational, and technical units;
• increase in personnel capacity and professionalism, ensuring adequate manning levels across sixteen Coast Guard districts nationwide, supported by provisions for specialized technical officers such as doctors, lawyers, and environmental specialists;
• modernization of assets and infrastructure by authorizing the PCG to develop a comprehensive development plan for vessels, aircraft, navigation and communications systems, and maritime monitoring facilities;
• ensuring sustainable financing by establishing mechanisms for grants, donations, and international partnerships;
• institutionalizing accountability and discipline through the creation of a Coast Guard Internal Affairs Service (CGIG-IAS);
• strengthening of disaster response and environmental protection, empowering the PCG to develop oil spill response and containment systems and coordinate closely with LGUs and international partners to mitigate maritime disasters, and
• enhancing national security coordination by integrating PCG operations with the AFP in times of war or national emergency, including interoperability through shared training and personnel exchange programs.

“Araw-araw humaharap sa peligro ang hanay ng PCG sa pagbabantay sa ating teritoryo at yamang-dagat, sa paghahatid ng tulong at pagprotekta sa ating mga mangingisda mula sa pambubully at pang-ha-harass ng dayuhang nangangamkam ng ating teritoryo, at sa pagresponde sa panahon ng sakuna. Obligasyon ng estado na protektahan at itaguyod din ang kanilang kapakanan,”  De Lima pointed out.

(Our Coast Guard brave the risks of guarding our waters, marine resources and fisherfolks who are being bullied and harassed by invaders, and they are also the first ones to respond during disasters. The government has the responsibility to stand for their rights.)

“Respeto at suporta sa pagpapatibay ng mandato ang kailangan ng ating PCG, hindi pangmamaliit, pang-aalipusta at mga paratang na walang basehan,” she added.

(What our Coast Guard needs are respect and support for strengthening their mandate, not baseless harassment.)

De Lima’s bill seeks to repeal Republic Act No. 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law  which dates back to 2009.

“Ang pagpapaunlad at pagpapalakas sa kanilang hanay ay pagsusulong ng lalong kaligtasan ng ating mga kababayan, at ng higit na pangangalaga sa ating likas na yaman at dangal ng ating bayan,” she said.

(Strengthening our Coast Guard is the best way to take care of our natural resources and protect our sovereignty.)

The military and the police's base pay hike was doubled back in January 2018. —AOL, GMA Integrated News