The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spearheaded a maritime exercise involving other government agencies and humanitarian organizations in Davao City recently.
The Inter-Agency Maritime Capability Exercise (MARCAPEX) 2024 was held from Nov. 21 to 23 at Barangay Daliao Toril. It sought to strengthen regional maritime capabilities and ensure better preparedness in handling emergencies.
Participants to the exercise included the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Customs PH (BOC), Davao City Central 911, Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), and Davao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO).
Commodore Rejard Marfe, commander of Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGSEM), said that the exercise highlighted the shared commitment of all participating entities to ensure a safe, secure, and sustainable maritime environment.
“The exercise brought together various maritime stakeholders to strengthen their capacity in safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain,” Marfe said on Sunday, Nov. 24.
The exercise featured various scenarios designed to enhance inter-agency coordination during maritime operations such as maritime law enforcement exercise (MARLEX), search and rescue (SAR) exercise, firefighting exercise, marine pollution exercise (MARPOLEX), and passing honors.
The tabletop exercises also provided an opportunity for the law enforcement agencies to simulate different emergency scenarios at sea, refine strategies during response operations, and strengthen decision-making processes.