Coast Guard beefing up

Following the epic marine skirmishes in which local vessels were dwarfed and outclassed by gigantic Chinese ships, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is building up its capabilities.

A proposed Senate measure, filed on Wednesday, seeks to reform and reorganize the PCG to bring its capabilities nearer to that of its powerful neighbor amid China’s continuing aggression in the West Philippine Sea.

Senate Bill 2650 seeks to better equip the PCG to improve its mandate, “considering the importance of having a well-mannered and responsive institution to meet regional and international challenges related to the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines.”

Based on the proposal, the PCG’s capabilities will be strengthened by enhancing its organizational structure and enable it to attract qualified personnel.

SB 2650 specifically seeks to repeal Republic Act 9993, also known as the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009.

The bill also seeks to address lingering concerns regarding the change in the PCG’s organizational structure, administration and personnel classifications.

RA 9993, for instance, was silent on the benefits of both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel of the PCG given its transfer from the Philippine Navy to the Department of Transportation.

The PCG was initially established in 1967 as a major unit of the Philippine Navy under the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

It was then transitioned to a civilian administration and moved from the control of the Office of the President to the Department of Transportation in 1998.

Japan vows strong support

Japan has assured it would support the PCG’s capability development, specifically through the acquisition of additional capital ships.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya on Wednesday visited PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, at the Coast Guard National Headquarters in Port Area, Manila.

PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said the Philippines and Japan are set to conduct a note signing for the acquisition of five 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) on 17 May.

“The contract signing will ensue thereafter. We expect the arrival of the five 97-meter MRRVs to expand the Coast Guard Fleet from 2027 to 2028,” Balilo told reporters.

Currently, the PCG has two 97-meter MRRVs, the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino. These vessels are active in conducting maritime security and safety operations in the West Philippine Sea.

Shadow operations

Meanwhile, China Coast Guard vessels late Wednesday started shadowing a convoy of Philippine civilian boats on their way to Scarborough Shoal, a convoy spokesperson said.

Three clearly marked coast guard vessels sailed within sight of the convoy at dusk and broadcast radio warnings heard aboard one of the Philippine boats as the convoy moved closer to the disputed shoal, convoy spokesman Emman Hizon told reporters.

Waving tiny Philippine flags and chanting “the Philippines is ours, China out!” about 200 people boarded five commercial fishing vessels that sailed out of a northern port in the morning, escorted by a number of tiny outriggers.

A few hours later, a lone Philippine Coast Guard ship met the convoy in the open seas and stood guard as it handed out food and fuel to Filipino fishermen and dropped a dozen orange buoys marked “WPS is ours.”

Later, the group issued a statement saying it would “proceed to the second phase of its voyage, aiming to reach the vicinity of Panatag Shoal for another supply distribution to Filipino fisherfolk in the area.”

A spokesperson for the convoy told reporters via a messaging app that there was “no Chinese presence” where the vessels distributed the assistance to the fishermen.

The group said it received reports of a “heavy presence” of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal.

Various assets of the Philippine Coast Guard were dispatched to assist the civilian mission led by the Atin Ito Coalition that would distribute supplies, including fuel and food packs, to Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea.

According to PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, PCG vessels were deployed to assist the convoy which is heading towards Bajo de Masinloc.

The group is expected to reach the general vicinity of the shoal by Thursday and distribute goods to fisherfolk in the area.

Counted as victory

In a separate press conference also on Wednesday, Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, maintained that the Atin Ito Coalition mission was already a victory for the Philippines even if the convoy had yet to reach Bajo de Masinloc.

He said mission participants could consider their job done once they manage to resupply the Filipino fisherfolk at the shoal.

“The primary objective of the Atin Ito Coalition was to provide aid to the Filipino fishermen. Filipino fishermen generally do not mingle with the China Coast Guard,” Tarriela said.