By Betheena Kae Unite
From being a vice admiral, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Joel Garcia has been promoted to admiral, the highest rank of a PCG commissioned officer.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Joel Garcia has been promoted to admiral, the highest rank of a PCG commissioned officer. (ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
President Duterte has promoted Garcia effective December 9, as he formally took oath at the Malacañang Palace Tuesday afternoon, the Coast Guard said.
Garcia was given arrival honors at the PCG National Headquarters yesterday as the 26th Commandant of the PCG and the Director of the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC).
“It is with gratitude and honor that I accept, from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the highest promotion to a Coast Guard commissioned officer. Rest assured that I, with the help of the men and women of PCG, will maximize the remaining time and resources of my leadership to responsibly perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, marine environmental protection, and maritime security in service to the nation,” Garcia said in a statement.
He is also the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) – the first regional government-to-government agreement that promotes and enhances cooperation to counter piracy and armed robbery against ships in Asia and the Pacific.
Garcia finished his Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation in Navigational Science at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in 1985 and pursued his Master in Shipping Business Management at the PMMA in 1993 as a full scholar.
Aside from acquiring his license as Master Mariner in 1992, he earned the second place and the fourth place at the Chief Officer and Master Mariner board examinations, respectively.
Garcia also had a colorful seagoing career in numerous Philippine Navy (PN) ships as he served at the junior officer’s billet in various capacity and culminated as captain or skipper to several capital ships of the PCG.
Prior to his present assignment at the PCG, Garcia was the Officer-In-Charge in December 2016 - January 2018 and served as Deputy Commandant for Administration.
He was also assigned as Commander of the Coast Guard Maritime Safety Services Command, Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection Command, Coast Guard Education and Training Command, and Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics and Information Systems Command, as well as District Commander of four Coast Guard Districts namely: National Capital Region, Puerto Princesa City in Palawan, Legaspi City in Albay, and San Fernando in La Union.
He was named as the Coast Guard commandant in October 2019 after the retirement of then PCG Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino.