The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and a lawmaker encouraged the Congress to approve a proposed bill from the House of Representatives (HoR) that seeks to modernize the agency through asset acquisition, facility upgrade, and personnel training.

(Photo courtesy of PCG)

House Bill (HB) No. 8028 or the PCG Modernization Act was filed by Occidental Mindoro Lone District Rep. Leody Tarriela last May 10 in recognition of the need for the Coast Guard's capability enhancement “to guarantee the efficient execution of its mandates.”

“As we continue to expand our workforce and imbibe the spirit of nationalism in every Coast Guardian, now is the perfect time to implement the PCG modernization program," said Adm. Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant. 

A copy of the bill has yet to be uploaded on the website of the Congress as of posting. However, according to Tarriela, the PCG modernization shall be divided into “four tiers of development.”

The first tier shall focus on constructing PCG response bases and improving the agency's maritime domain awareness capabilities. 

The second tier, on the other hand, shall cover the PCG’s infrastructure development and acquisition of state-of-the-art vessels and equipment “to advance the agency’s interdiction and maritime law enforcement capabilities.”

Further, the third tier shall pave the way for strengthening the PCG's coastal defense by acquiring and developing more offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) similar to BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) from France. The BRP Gabriela Silang is an 83-meter long OPV that was acquired by the PCG from French shipbuilder OCEA S.A. in 2020.

“It [third tier] shall also include acquiring air assets and providing more capacity-building opportunities for the Coast Guard Aviation Force to bolster airspace security within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ),” the PCG said, quoting Tarriela.

Lastly, the fourth tier shall involve the construction of additional PCG training facilities “to continuously enhance the skills and abilities of its workforce, as well as shipyards and hangars to secure Coast Guard assets and equipment.”

“We envision the PCG as a symbol of hope and a source of our nation's pride. Rest assured that HB No. 8208, once passed into law, shall serve as our compass in ensuring a safe and secure Philippine maritime domain," Abu said.

A counterpart of the said legislation Upper House, Senate Bill No. 2112, had been filed by Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense.