The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to train more personnel even as it nearly tripled its size in terms of workforce in six years under the administration of President Duterte.
Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, said the organization “is now more capable” of performing its maritime-related and other mandates thanks to the initiatives of the administration to modernize and strengthen its coastal defense and security.
"Your Coast Guard today, especially in this time of pandemic and during calamities, is seen anywhere and everywhere. Our men and women are deployed, not only in coastal areas, but also in airports, roads, and other transport hubs to ultimately uphold public health and safety," Abu said in a statement Wednesday, May 18.
With just 8,500 members in 2016, the PCG has now 22,000-strong workforce, according to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade.
The PCG officers are composed of 878 females and 1,758 males, while Coast Guard non-officers are composed of 2,831 females and 16,923 males. For the PCG civilian composition, 163 are females and 58 are males.
The roster is seen to increase to around 24,000 this year as 1,757 individuals are expected to complete their training and be part of the PCG.
Part of the modernization efforts of the PCG is to achieve a workforce of 35,000 members in the coming years, according to Tugade.
The PCG said that complementing the growth of their workforce is the recruitment of members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary which is dedicated to upholding and carrying out the PCG’s mission of promoting the safety of life and property at sea, protecting the marine environment, and conducting humanitarian missions and disaster response.
Now totaling 19,767 members, the PCG Regular Auxiliarists include 19,510 personnel while the PCG Executive Auxiliarists have 257 members, mostly composed of fishermen, boat owners and operators, and community leaders.
As part of the Auxiliary Division of the PCG, the co-auxiliarists are part of nation-building as they are deemed partners in the fight against illegal shore activities, the PCG noted.