Marcos hails Coast Guard’s dedication

Marcos hails Coast Guard’s dedication | Daily Tribune

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has commended the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for its critical role in maritime safety, environmental protection, and asserting Philippine sovereignty, particularly in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Speaking before 29 newly promoted flag officers, Marcos on Monday praised the PCG as a “vigilant force” that remains calm in crisis and steadfast in duty.

Marcos also led the oathtaking of the 29 newly promoted officers: two vice admirals, eight rear admirals, and 19 commodores.

“Driven by your vision to become a highly professional, multi-missioned, and modernized maritime force, you have made enormous strides. From routine operations to moments of peril, your commitment has been strong and unwavering,” Marcos said.

From January 2024 to March 2025, the PCG conducted 2.7 million inspections at ports, covering pre-departure checks, vessel safety, emergency readiness and port control.

“Behind every inspection is a promise: that every Filipino who sets sail will return home safely,” Marcos said.

He cited nearly 45,000 seaborne missions and 3.1 million square nautical miles of patrols carried out by the PCG during the same period.

“In moments when lives hang in the balance, you have proven time and again: The Coast Guard is there. The Coast Guard never turns away,” he added.

The PCG responded to more than 2,000 maritime incidents and rescued nearly 4,500 people.

“This is what sets the PCG apart: In the face of uncertainty, you show up. In the middle of the storm, you bring order. In the loneliest parts of our waters, you bring hope,” he said.

Marcos also pointed to the PCG’s swift response to the oil spill in Bataan as a “defining moment” for the agency.

“You coordinated swiftly, acted decisively, [and] prevented further devastation to our marine ecosystems,” he said.

The President highlighted the PCG’s operations in the West Philippine Sea, including patrols in the Kalayaan Island Group, the Philippine Rise, and other maritime zones.

“Your continued patrols reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our sovereign rights,” he said. “You are defining for the rest of the world the territory of the Republic of the Philippines.”