US gov't pledges more capacity-building programs for PCG
The United States government committed to fund additional programs that will improve the capabilities of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other maritime law enforcement agencies.
This was revealed by US Vice President Kamala Harris during her visit to Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Tuesday, Nov. 22.
“To the Philippine Coast Guard, you are on the frontlines of standing up for the international rules-based order. Each and every day as you patrol these waters, you uphold the rules and norms that are vital to the prosperity of the Filipino people and people around the world,” Harris said during a speech onboard PCG’s BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701).
“The United States will provide new funding to Philippine maritime law enforcement agencies to increase their capacity to counter IUU (illegal, unreported and unregulated) fishing, to enhance monitoring systems, and to upgrade their equipment,” she added.
Concrete details of the additional funding are yet to be revealed but Harris said that the assistance will form part of the new initiatives she launched in May at the US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington DC. The initiatives sought to provide more training, assets, and personnel to build maritime law enforcement capabilities across Southeast Asia including deterring IUU fishing.
“Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing is far too common across world oceans. It presents a direct threat to coastal ecosystems and economies. The United States is proud to have a strong partnership which includes the training recently conducted on this very ship with the Philippine Coast Guard and United States service members,” she said.
Back in September, the US Coast Guard (USCG) facilitated the first ever PCG-led small boat operations course in Manila.
From Sept. 5 to 16, 12 PCG candidates trained 16 PCG students through classroom instruction and at-sea practical exercises that improved their skills in navigation, boat driving, risk management, towing, and man-overboard recovery with support and mentorship from visiting USCG instructors.
“In addition, we increased efforts to provide countries in the region with a wider and more accurate picture of their territorial waters,” Harris revealed.
Back in May, US President Joe Biden launched the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness in Tokyo alongside the leaders of Australia, Japan, and India.
The said initiative, according to Harris, uses space-based platforms to deliver a common operating picture of Indo-Pacific waterways and promote transparency so that their allies and partners “can better protect vulnerable fisheries, respond to humanitarian disasters, and detect and counter illicit activities.”
“I am pleased to report that the Philippines is already receiving the stream of data alongside other partners in the Southeast Asia,” Harris said.
“We plan to increase this work in the coming months to include the launching of new satellites into orbit in December to expand this program,” she added.
Harris said the US government and the international community have a “profound” stake in the future of the Indo-Pacific region, which is why keeping it peaceful and orderly is important.
“America’s prosperity relies on the billions of dollars that flow through these waters every day and we are proud to work with you in your mission,” she said.