After the successful enforcement of maritime laws against Chinese militia vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced Friday, May 21, that it has intensified its exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to further defend the country’s territory and protect Filipino fishermen in the area.

The PCG said that its ships, along with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) ships, have started the second phase of its capability enhancement training in the WPS last Tuesday, May 18.

Led by Task Force Pagsasanay, the maritime exercises aim to "enhance the capability of PCG personnel in promoting maritime law enforcement, maritime security, maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection” in the country's vast waters.

The first leg of the drills started in April with the activation of Task Force Pagsasanay, a unit formed by the PCG to train its personnel on navigation in restricted bodies of water.

The PCG said BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409), BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407), and BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) are currently deployed in the WPS to conduct training on navigation and patrol operations.

Further, personnel of BRP Gabriela Silang underwent a fire drill off Kalayaan Island Group. It also distributed relief goods to at least 20 fishermen in the Sacrborough Shoal.

Meanwhile, BFAR ships BRP Francisco Dagohoy (MMOV-5002), MCS-3001, MCS-3002, and MCS-3008 are also conducting sovereignty patrols in the tension-filled waters.

“The BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) regularly conducts damage control simulations, such as fire drills, to maintain and improve the proficiency of PCG personnel in responding to emergencies at sea,” the PCG said.

Apart from the distributed food supplies such as bread and canned goods, the fishermen also received face masks, face shields, and hygiene kit to protect themselves against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the PCG said.

In March, 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.

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.

Earlier this month, the PCG bared that it drove away Chinese vessels who were spotted near Sabina Shoal near Palawan in the WPS.