The Philippine Coast Guard has stepped up its maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea amid the aggressive presence of Chinese vessels in the disputed areas which include the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
In fact, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said their ships, BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Sindangan, have started the maritime training near Bajo De Masinloc off the waters of Zambales on Saturday, April 24.
He added that the BRP Cabra, BRP Malapascua, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels have also done ship interoperability exercises since last week near the Pagasa Island which is within the territory of Palawan.
Balilo said the maritime exercises, led by Task Force Pagsasanay, are intended to achieve operational and logistical efficiency to optimize the utilization of Coast Guard’s manpower and assets through a harmonized command and control, and supply chain.
“We are supporting the whole-of-nation approach in securing our maritime jurisdiction, especially the efforts of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) to undertake maritime security, maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection roles in our country’s waters,” Balilo said.
The PCG spokesperson said crew members of the participating vessels have started their intensified training on navigation, small boat operations, maintenance, and logistical operations.
On board the respective vessels, according to Balilo, are PCG personnel composed of lawyers, medical doctors, nurses, rescue swimmers, weapons, communications, and information systems technicians, and maritime specialists among others.
Balilo said the PCG has also activated its Task Force Pagsasanay to intensify the capacity building of its personnel and assets as it vowed to protect the country’s maritime territory amid the heightened tension in the WPS.
The Task Force Pagsasanay will conduct training to enhance the skills of Coast Guard personnel on “navigation along restricted waterways, offshore, and in less charted waters, as well as in maintenance and logistical operations.”
Aside from the WPS, the PCG said the capital ships will also perform maritime exercises in the Batanes Group of Islands, Benham Rise, as well as in the southern and eastern portions of the country.
The Coast Guard said it also planned to conduct medical and dental missions among local residents and coastal families in the Pagasa Island next week.
Last month, the country protested the presence of around 220 Chinese vessels believed to be manned by Chinese maritime militia at the Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef in the WPS.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and diplomats from the Chinese Embassy to the Philippines had a heated exchange over the continued presence of the boats. Lorenzana demanded for the withdrawal of the trawlers but Chinese diplomats insisted that the reef was part of their territory.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has filed several diplomatic protests with China as it continues to refuse to recall their vessels at the reef.