The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has received from its US counterpart training on boat operations as part of the Philippines-US maritime law enforcement cooperation.
The first time for the US Coast Guard (USCG) to facilitate a Small Boat Operations course, the training was held from Sep. 5 to 16 in Manila, the US Embassy in the Philippines said Thursday.
"With the support and mentorship of visiting USCG instructors, 12 PCG instructor candidates trained 16 PCG students through classroom instruction and at-sea practical exercises," the embassy said.
The course aimed to improve PCG personnel's skills in navigation, boat driving, risk management, towing, and man-overboard recovery, it added.
According to the embassy, the training is part of a series of courses sponsored by the Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. It got funding support from the U.S. Global Contingency Security Fund, which aimed to prepare Filipino instructors to lead small boat operations training for the PCG.
"This is just one of the many training and learning opportunities that INL and USCG extend to the PCG," said hilippine Coast Guard Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Charlie Q. Rances during the graduation ceremony on Sep. 16.
"This type of technical training among maritime professionals highlights the strong relationship, unity, and likeminded outlook between the Philippine and U.S. Coast Guards," added USCG Liaison at US Embassy Manila, Commander Bien Decena.