Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has awarded the members and officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) who showed their “commendable” public service for the Filipino community.
Tugade personally handed the Order of Kamagi medal to Lieutenant Commander Francis Sualog and Probationary Ensign Ralph Barajan in an awarding ceremony held at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila on Thursday, Aug. 19.
Sualog assisted an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who unexpectedly gave birth at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last August 2020.
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Meanwhile, Barajan has single-handedly rescued at least 62 passengers of the ill-fated vessel MV Siargao Princess off Cebu waters last November 2019.
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After successfully supervising “PCG Contact Center ng Bayan,” which handles the complains and concerns amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, PCG Spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo received the award of Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement medal and ribbon for his outstanding leadership.
The PCG said the contact center was able to achieve a “100 percent resolution rate from January 2020 to February 2021.”
Seaman Second Class (SN2) Julius Abundol III and SN2 Vincent Adrian Balamban have also bestowed the award of Coast Guard Bronze Cross medal and ribbon.
Abundol showed maximum tolerance and bravely disarmed a civilian carrying a dangerous weapon at EDSA Carousel Ortigas Avenue Station in May 2021.
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Meanwhile, Balamban also assisted a pregnant woman who unexpectedly gave birth inside the restroom of a roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessel in Pasacao Port, Camarines Sur last April 2021.
READ MORE: It’s a boy! Woman gives birth in a RoRo vessel
Commander Jeffrey Collado and Lieutenant Junior Grade Merham Sajarani also received awards for ensuring speed actions and projects for complaints and concerns amid COVID-19 pandemic.
During the ceremony, Tugade commended the officers and personnel for their excellence during rescue operations, missions, and also ensuring 100 percent attainment in freedom of information and procurement processes.
“Nandito ako ngayon para personal na iparating sa inyo ang aking pasasalamat sa pagbibigay-buhay ninyo sa mandato ng PCG (I am here today to personally convey to you my gratitude for your displaying the PCG mandates),” Tugade said.
“Basta’t may buhay na nakataya, nandyan ang PCG. Saludo ako sa inyong lahat (As long as there is a life at stake, the PCG is there. I salute you all). Today is a job well done for the PCG,” he added.