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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PCG thanks Senate for P1.3-B budget hike

PCG thanks Senate for P1.3-B budget hike

Published Nov 14, 2023 06:00 am
Pcg.jpg
A Philippine Coast Guard vessel is blocked by a China Coast Guard ship while on a resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal on Oct. 4, 2023. (Screenshot courtesy of Office of Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri)

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday, Nov. 14, expressed appreciation to the Senate for increasing its 2024 budget by P1.3 billion to fund its operations in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

During the Department of Transportation (DOTr)'s plenary debate for its fiscal year 2024 budget on Nov. 13, the PCG's budget was increased by P1.3 billion, bringing its total budget for next year to P27 billion.

Senator Grace Poe, who defended the budget of the DOTr, the mother agency of the PCG, said the additional fund will be allocated for the Coast Guard's vessel operations and maintenance activities. 

"We thank the Senate for supporting the PCG in performing our mandates and pursuing our modernization projects," PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said.

"This budget increase will significantly augment our operations not only in the West Philippine Sea but also in our fight to combat illegal activities and enforce maritime laws in our borders in the Southern Philippines and Benham Rise in the Eastern Seaboard," he added.

Balilo stressed that the PCG "is facing a myriad of challenges" that its leadership needs to address that's why the budget increase "will definitely boost our capability development and daily operations."

"We thank our fellow Filipinos for their trust and confidence in the organization. Rest assured that we will manage every single centavo entrusted to us in accordance with existing auditing rules and regulations," the PCG spokesperson noted.

The PCG is planning to beef up its current fleet with the acquisition of bigger and modern vessels to sustain its patrol and other visibility operations in the WPS and other parts of the country amid the challenges posed by various traditional and non-traditional threats.

These include additional ships similar to its 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino -- two of its biggest and most modern assets to date.

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