The Senate's move to increase the budget of the Philippine Coast Guard by P1.3 billion is crucial to enhancing its capabilities, modernizing equipment and ability to conduct continuous operations in the West Philippine Sea. 

This was what Senator Grace Poe said when she defended the 2024 proposed budget of the PCG's mother agency, the Department of Transportation, during a senate plenary debate late Monday night. 

Poe said the PCG is currently working with the military on the development of a roadmap that would address the increasing assertiveness of China in the country's exclusive economic zone in the WPS. 

"They are developing a roadmap together with the military… We're actually late in the game but at least we're doing it now," she said 

Poe noted the PCG can utilize the additional P1.3 billion to repair facilities and equipment as well as fuel ships for more improved maritime patrols in Philippine waters, particularly the WPS. 

"This is the initiative of the Senate because they need about… The total budget of the PCG is 27 billion. We increased that, about P100-something million a month on fuel alone. And they also need for repairs P563 million for dry-docking repair of PCG vessels, P600 million for fuel requirement for PCG vessels — these are supplementals," she said, noting that the PCG ships should be maintained every month and dry-docked at least twice in five years.

While the PCG is focusing its efforts on the WPS and protecting the country's territory, Poe said it should be noted that the coast is also combatting illegal fishing, piracy, terrorism, illegal drugs, smuggling and human trafficking cases within Philippine waters.

"They're like our peacetime patrol. So they are our first line of defense right now," she added.

In her interpellation, Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the PCG's development of a road map with the Armed Forces of the Philippines on the WPS, saying it would be beneficial amid China's continuing harassment and dangerous acts against Philippine vessels. 

Hontiveros also urged the PCG to work with the Department of Information and Communications Technology to regulate the reconnaissance or surveillance mission of foreign vessels in the Philippine EEZ.

She made this recommendation after a Chinese research vessel was recently sighted in the area of Benham Rise (Philippine Rise).

"Concerns have been raised that this is basically a reconnaissance or surveillance mission," she noted.