Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has approved the creation of 4,000 new positions for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in 2024 to strengthen its core functions.
The additional positions—819 officers and 3,181 non-officers—aim to bolster the PCG's core functions, including maritime safety administration, environmental protection, security and law enforcement, and search and rescue.
The DBM said the PCG's request to create 4,000 positions is part of its 2024 goal under its seven-year Recruitment Plan. This plan, which aims to reach a total of 37,869 positions based on the PCG’s ideal pyramidal structure, is set to be fully implemented by 2026.
“This implementation considers the necessary capacity building of its uniformed personnel and recent developments in the maritime sector, both domestically and internationally,” the DBM said in a Dec. 5 statement.
The creation of these positions will increase the PCG’s workforce to 34,430, up from the current 30,430 authorized positions.
Pangandaman said this development will boost the operational capabilities of PCG personnel, adding that “they play an important role in protecting the country's security and assisting our fellow citizens during disasters or emergencies.”
“That's why we stand with them in building a more resilient and responsive PCG workforce,” she stressed.
In addition to disaster response, the DBM noted that the PCG is tasked with strengthening monitoring and maintaining order in the West Philippine Sea to safeguard the country’s territory from foreign ship incursions and abuses.
The DBM also stated that the PCG’s continued enhancement of its facilities and operations to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipinos is in line with the administration’s goals under its Bagong Pilipinas program.