
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan will discuss security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region with his Japanese counterpart and the country's prime minister in Manila on Saturday, Nov. 4.
Gavan will host Japan Coast Guard (JCG) Commandant Admiral Shohei Ishii and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their respective courtesy visits at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila.
Ishii's visit and meeting with Gavan will take place at 10:30 a.m.
"They are expected to discuss the current regional maritime security situation, reaffirm the PCG – JCG partnership in capability development and personnel exchange," PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said on Friday, Nov. 3.
Meanwhile, Kishida's arrival is set at 2 p.m.
"He will board a Japan-made PCG vessel," Balilo noted.
The Philippines and Japan have regular Coast Guard exchanges, and an active program for capacity-building.
The PCG and JCG has an existing Memorandum of Cooperation which serves as a guide for the conduct of their activities.
The Philippines and Japan also realized the project for the delivery of twelve multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) to the Philippines under a program funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as part of the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Projects Phases I and II.
The PCG has a fleet of Japan-made vessels which include 10 MRRVs, two offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), and a buoy tender vessel.
BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701,) a 97-meter MRRV that serves as the flagship and one of the largest vessels of the PCG, was made by Japanese company Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.