The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commended President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. for augmenting its personnel immediately after assuming office, saying it significantly boosted its capability amid increased geopolitical tension. PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said this in a media forum in Quezon City on Saturday, Feb. 26. According to Tarriela, the support Marcos extended to the PCG "significantly enhanced its capability" and complemented the initiatives carried out by previous administrations aimed at building its capacity and personnel. "In the first year of the presidency of President Bongbong Marcos, he added 4,000. That's why we now have 26,000," he said. "Before the year ends, we're also expected to have an additional 4,000, which will make the Philippine Coast Guard 30,000 strong," he added. In a speech in Baguio City last week, President Marcos said the country would not cede an inch of its territory amid tensions in the South China Sea, promising to work with the nation's allies to ensure the safety of Filipinos. Aside from hiring more personnel, Tarriela raised the need for the PCG Modernization Law to enable it to program its asset acquisition, such as offshore patrol vessels and additional aircraft. It would also enhance the PCG's Maritime Domain Awareness capability, like building more radars, IAS, and lighthouses in different coastal areas of the country. Tarriela added that the PCG needs a coast guard response base and berthing spaces for its vessels, noting that their vessels remain dependent on the Philippine Port Authority's berthing area. With its current P23-billion budget, the Coast Guard official said the PCG is more than willing to accept the increase in funds. "If the legislators themselves would choose to realign some of the budget from different sources, not just in one particular source that you mentioned, of course, the Philippine Coast Guard will also be happy to receive those realignments," he said. Tarriela also welcomed the possibility of conducting a joint patrol with the United States Coast Guard. However, it is still in its infancy, noting the need to build a credible Philippine Navy to protect the country's territorial integrity.