President Duterte has approved the appointment of former Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral George Ursabia as Undersecretary for maritime affairs of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade made the announcement during the inauguration on Monday, Nov. 8, of the new coast guard Western Visayas Headquarters in Iloilo.
“Today. I received where the President of the Republic, the Office of the President, has formally approved my recommendation to appoint my good friend, former PCG Commandant Ursabia as the Undersecretary for (DOTr) maritime,” said Tugade during his speech.
The new PCG regional headquarters is expected to strengthen and support the workforce of the coast guard in Western Visayas as they carry out their mission of safeguarding life and property.
PCG personnel will also provide protection in the marine environment, and conduct humanitarian mission and disaster response and management in the area.
Tugade said that the new headquarters was in partnership between the coast guard and the Department of Public Works and Highways under former secretary Mark Villar.
Aside from Tugade, also present during the PCG Western Visayas Headquarters building inauguration was Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III, and Iloilo City congresswoman Julienne Baronda.