BOOSTING INTEROPERABILITY. Officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) pose for a photo opportunity on the sidelines of the signing of a tripartite mechanism in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Friday (July 23, 2021). Under the accord, the PCG is now included in the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC) and will play a vital role in forming various concepts of operations to address the country’s complex and evolving maritime threats. (Photo courtesy of PNP)
MANILA – The capability of security forces to respond to external and internal threats got a boost as the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed Friday a tripartite mechanism to enhance their interoperability.
“Our presence today is a manifestation of our collective desire to enhance the level of our system of interoperability, coordination, and cooperation which is the key to success in the war on terrorism and insurgency,” said PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar during the ceremonial signing of the joint accord in Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City.
The tripartite mechanism was officially adopted by the three agencies through Resolution No. 11-2021 which included the PCG in the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Center (JPSCC).
Both the AFP and PNP chiefs, who sit as co-chairs of the national JPSCC resolved to include the PCG among member agencies of the JPSCC, and subsequently designated PCG commandant to be one of its co-chairs.
“We take pride in welcoming, officially, the Philippine Coast Guard in the JPSCC Family. The documents that we just signed are products of painstaking work that harnessed the positive ideas and modest contribution of our respective agencies aimed at ensuring a more effective campaign against terrorism and insurgency considering the emerging trends wherein adversaries have already established strengthened links with Islamist terrorist organizations raising the density of the threat environment and risk to the community,” Eleazar said.
Meanwhile. AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said with the inclusion of the Philippine Coast Guard in the JPSCC, he looks forward to future collaborative efforts among agency members in terms of maritime safety and security, maritime law enforcement, and the protection of the country’s marine environment.
This development is consistent with the government’s "whole-of-nation" approach towards peace and security; engaging the PNP, AFP, and PCG to work together in keeping the country safe and secure.
As the new JPSCC member agency, the PCG will play a vital role in forming various concepts of operations that will address the country’s complex and evolving maritime threats.
“The present challenges offer a great opportunity for us to enhance our coordination and interoperability. This has been a journey built from the ground by men in uniform service who selflessly serve for years and further stimulated and sustained at the policy side. For the PCG Team, we are so fortunate today that we are here to solidify the PCG as the third arm service in our lifetime,” PCG commandant Admiral George Ursabia Jr. said.
Moreover, the three agency heads also signed JPSCC Letter Directive Nr. 03-2021 which called for the reorganization of the JPSCC.
In the revised structure, the National JPSCC will now be headed by the PNP, AFP, and PCG chiefs while PNP Directors for Integrated Police Operation, AFP Unified Commanders, and PCG Area Commanders will supervise the Regional and Provincial JPSCCs.
The accord also stipulates that cooperation and coordination among the AFP, PNP, and PCG complemented by collaboration and consultation with all stakeholders shall be the guiding principle in addressing peace and security concerns.
“Despite differences in our respective uniforms and in the scopes of our respective work and mandates we are all bound together by our common oath to serve and protect the Filipino people and our country as well as safeguard the national interest. But most importantly, we all have the same faith and hope for humanity. That is, perhaps the most fundamental reason why we need to foster and strengthen our cooperation and collaboration, to promote the common good," Eleazar said. (with Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)
