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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider France firm ally of PH in advancing shared maritime interests — PCG

France firm ally of PH in advancing shared maritime interests — PCG

Published Oct 18, 2025 10:10 am
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan (right) listens intently to French Ambassador to the Philippines Maria Fontanel during thier meeting at the PCG national headquarters in Port Area, Manila on Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo: PCG)
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan (right) listens intently to French Ambassador to the Philippines Maria Fontanel during thier meeting at the PCG national headquarters in Port Area, Manila on Oct. 17, 2025. (Photo: PCG)
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that France is a steadfast partner of the Philippines in promoting the two nations' shared maritime interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Thus, said PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan as he welcomed French Ambassador to the Philippines Maria Fontanel during the latter's courtesy visit at the PCG national headquarters in Port Area, Manila on Friday, Oct. 17.
The meeting of the two officials "reflected the shared commitment of the Philippines and France to strengthen maritime cooperation and address common challenges at sea," according to the PCG.
During the visit, Gavan and Fontanel discussed ways to further strengthen Manila and Paris' bilateral collaboration.
They also shared updates on the PCG's planned acquisition of 40 units of 35-meter fast patrol craft (FPC) from French shipbuilder OCEA as part of the ongoing Memorandum of Cooperation on vessels and maritime assets between the PCG and France.
The procurement was sealed during a contract signing between the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and OCEA last May 22.
The assets will be utilized to enhance the PCG's maritime presence and rapid response capabilities amid complex maritime challenges, such as the growing maritime traffic, rising incidents of illegal activities at sea, and tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The acquisition is supported through a government-to-government financing agreement under the Agreement on Financial and Development Cooperation (AFDC) between the Philippines and France.
Under the contract, the PCG shall utilize the 40 units of FPC to strengthen its patrol capabilities across Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), enabling broader coverage and improved mobility for simultaneous nationwide deployment.
The floating assets shall also allow the PCG to facilitate faster and more effective responses to maritime threats, such as illegal fishing, smuggling, piracy, and maritime terrorism, while enhancing interoperability with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and international partners.
Moreover, the FPC shall serve as rapid deployment platforms for rescue, relief, and emergency operations during natural disasters and maritime incidents, improving overall response time and operational efficiency.
According to Gavan, the high-speed vessels promote self-reliance in naval shipbuilding as 20 of the 40 units of FPC will be constructed locally. This initiative will support the domestic maritime industry, create jobs, and facilitate technology transfer.
The said project is also supported by a nine-year Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) plan to ensure sustained operational readiness and long-term asset maintenance.

Related Tags

PCG France Ronnie Gil Gavan Indo-Pacific region
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