The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and its counterparts from other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are looking to establish a set of rules that will govern how they address various maritime issues in the region.
This, as the PCG hosted for the first time the third ASEAN Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Forum in Davao City starting Wednesday, June 5. The first two iterations of the forum were held in Indonesia.
The forum – which will last until June 8 – gathers coast guard agencies from ASEAN nations such as the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand to strengthen their cooperation and ensure the region’s maritime safety and security.
“Ang layunin po nito ay lalong mas magkaintindihan ang mga coast guards sa ASEAN upang magkaroon ng common or sama-samang paraan kung paano ie-enforce ang regulasyon, paano magkaroon ng cooperation upang mapanatiling mapayapa, masigla, at maging rules-based ang karagatan sa ASEAN (This aims to enhance understanding and cooperation among coast guards in ASEAN to have a common or united way in enforcing regulations to maintain a peaceful, prosperous and rules-based order in ASEAN waters),” Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG Commandant, said.
Among the targets of the forum is the creation of a protocol that shall be implemented by the ASEAN coast guards whenever they encounter illegal maritime activities such as drug smuggling, human trafficking, illegal fishing, piracy and entry of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).
Gavan said there is a high possibility that such protocol will be realized since it will be based on the existing international conventions or agreements that were already agreed upon by ASEAN countries such as the 1972 COLREGS (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea), 1973 MARPOL (International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships), and 1978 SOLAS Convention (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea).
Its working title, according to the PCG chief, would be “Southeast Asian Protocols on Engagement at Sea for Coast Guards and Enforcement Agencies.”
“Ang kapayaaan ay makakamit kung lahat ay sumusunod sa batas at ang pagpapatupad ng batas ay magiging maayos kung lahat ay pare-pareho ang pagkakainitindi sa batas at nagkakasundo kung paano ito ipatupad (Peace can be achieved if everybody is following the law and there will be proper enforcement of the law if all of us understand it and agree how we will enforce it),” Gavan explained.
The ASEAN Coast Guard Forum is being held days after the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD) in Singapore last week, where agencies and organizations related to military, security and defense discussed maritime security in the region.
Among the things discussed during the defense dialogue was the illegal use of water cannon in an offensive, much like how China Coast Guard fires jets of water to drive away Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.
According to the PCG, water cannon shall only be used to save lives, as in putting out fire at sea, and not to endanger human lives.
PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said that for the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum, the participating coast guard organizations aim to improve their networking in relation to keeping the South China Sea open and safe for everybody.
“Magsisilbi itong daan upang magkaroon ng iisang tinig at panawagan ang buong ASEAN region ukol sa iba’t-ibang pagsubok at panganib sa malayang paglalayag (This will serve as a way to create a united voice and call in the entire ASEAN region when it comes to different challenges and threats on freedom of navigation),” he noted.
The Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao serves as the host of the ASEAN Coast Guard forum. BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) is at Davao Port along with personnel from the Coast Guard Special Operations Force and Coast Guard K9 Force for the event.