The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is recruiting at least 4,000 personnel and preparing more ships to increase the frequency of its maritime patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo said the resumption of the nationwide recruitment is still being finalized pending the budget approval for additional personnel by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
“We have 4,000 personnel na naka ready for recruitment iniintay na lang natin ang go signal ng DBM. Kailangan talaga namin ng personnel and of course assets (We have 4,000 personnel ready for recruitment, we are just waiting for the go signal from the DBM. We really need personnel and of course assets),” Balilo said in an interview over CNN’s The Source on Thursday, May 6.
The PCG spokesperson said that they are also hoping to receive two ships from Japan to help them sustain the country’s sovereignty patrols after its successful enforcement of maritime laws against militia-manned Chinese ships near Sabina Shoal in WPS last April 27.
“May darating tayong dalawang barko next year hopefully na galing Japan. Ito rin ang makakatulong sa atin para magpatrol dito sa West Philippine Sea and nakikipagnegotiate pa rin ang PCG para madagdagan ang offshore patrol vessel natin galing ng France (Hopefully, we will have two ships coming next year from Japan. This will also help us to patrol the West Philippine Sea and the PCG is still negotiating to acquire more offshore patrol vessel from France),” Balilo said.
According to Balilo, the Coast Guard ships that include the BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) and BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409); and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships BRP Francisco Dagohoy (MMOV-5002), MCS-3001, MCS-3002, and MCS-3008 are currently deployed in the WPS.
The BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), which safely arrived in Manila on Monday, May 3, is already planning to go back in the WPS next week, according to PCG.
The PCG added that they are preparing for the second leg of the joint comprehensive maritime exercises in WPS with BFAR.