President Marcos is expected to discuss with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) India’s offer to provide seven helicopters it could use for rescue and humanitarian efforts during disasters.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (Photo from the Presidential Communications Office)
Citing the recent meeting between the President and Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shambhu Kumaran, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said that the offer is for the PCG to use these helicopters to build up its capabilities during search-and-rescue operations.
The President added that the helicopters would also be a big help to the PCG’s maritime operations.
“We’re trying to build up our capacity – our capabilities in terms of our coast guard, in terms of our – of course, the search and rescue is always the primary consideration,” Marcos said.
“As you heard the news, there is a continuing problem really that we have to deal with and we have to increase our capabilities,” he furthered.
The Chief Executive shared that he would discuss this proposal with the PCG and Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista.
The PCG is an attached agency of the DOTr.
Marcos made these remarks during Kumaran’s courtesy call to the President at Malacañan Palace, where he discussed the continuing efforts to strengthen the bilateral relations between the Philippines and India.
For his part, the envoy noted that there are already ongoing talks between the Indian government, the PCG and the DOTr for the supply of seven helicopters for the agency’s maritime search and rescue operations and humanitarian services.
“The discussion is going on very well. The Coast Guard is very interested – they’ve flown the helicopter … I would request your consideration because that would be a very positive [program],” Kumaran told the President.
According to the ambassador, the helicopters that India is offering to the PCG are built for India’s own Navy and Coast Guard.
These can be used for more active security operations that can carry more people and load.
“So, these [seven helicopters] are really an optimal solution, given the changing requirements for the Philippine Coast Guard to play a more active role and its security,” he added.