Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. (PPAB)

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. is urging Congress to address the limited coverage of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Mindanao, particularly on the southern border.

“I think the main root of which probably can be addressed by Congress is the lack of coast guard facilities in the southern border of the Philippines,” Teodoro said during the agency’s budget deliberations in the House Committee on Appropriations.

“There are limited and very few coast guard vessels that are there to ensure maritime safety, and anti-smuggling and anti-human trafficking activities,” he stressed.

Teodoro, in particular, explained that there was a “major gap” in patrolling the high seas—or the waters beyond the Philippines’ jurisdiction.

“I hope Congress can address this, insofar as the Coast Guard is concerned, so that the Philippine Navy can be free to patrol the outer areas of our periphery,” he said.

Under the 2025 National Expenditure Program (NEP), the DND and its attached agencies have been earmarked with P258.16 billion for its budget next year. This is 6.51 percent higher than the current year's budget of P242.39 billion.

The PCG will receive a budget of P31.3 billion, which will cover the allocation for the PCG hospital and the establishment of urgent maritime communication and navigation systems, among other concerns.

Lanao del Norte 1st district Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo, during his interpellation, noted that there were still “remnants” of ISIS, or the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, in Mindanao.

Dimaporo said these terrorists have not yet been fully eradicated by government forces.

He recalled that authorities also fought foreign rebels during the five-month-long Marawi siege in 2017. Nearly 1,000 militants were kliled during that span.

“We found Indonesians, Malaysians, and we are wondering how did they enter our country. And some theorized that it is because of the tri-border of the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia,” said Dimaporo, referring to the country’s southern border.

“Hopefully, some sort of agreement can be made to ensure that terrorists don’t enter our sovereign area. And probably propagate once again in the region of Mindanao, terrorism,” the lawmaker added.

In response, Teodoro said the national government has conducted tri-border talks with Malaysia and Indonesia, particularly for stopping terrorism.

He also noted that efforts to go after terrorist groups, such as the militant Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group (DI-MG), have continued to flourish. “We have had lots of success this year,” the DND chief added.