PCG Commandant, Admiral Artemio Abu (PNA photo by Priam F. Nepomuceno)
MANILA – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is beefing up its capability to safeguard lives in all features occupied by the country in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Admiral Artemio Abu, PCG commandant, said this is now being done with the setting-up of command outposts (COPs) and communications equipment in all features occupied by the Philippines.
"Pag-put up natin ng COP sa isla na occupied natin. Ginawa ng PCG diyan, ginagawa natin nag-put up tayo ng communications equipment. Ang purpose niyan is to intensify the presence of Coast Guard on matters related to safety implementation. Kasama na rin ang buoy markers na nilagay natin para nandoon ang Coast Guard, ready to assist in the event na may disaster or emergency ang mangingisda natin, monitored (agad) ng Coast Guard (We are putting up COPs on the islands that we occupy. The PCG is also setting up communications equipment. Our purpose for that is to intensify the presence of the Coast Guard on matters related to safety implementations and these include the putting up of buoy markers. The Coast Guard is there to assist our Filipino fishermen in any disaster or emergency that may occur, all activities there are) monitored by the Coast Guard)," Abu said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.
Aside from these measures, Abu said the PCG is also helping other government agencies in the protection of marine resources in the WPS.
"Kasama yan protection of marine resources. Kasama pag-ikot ng barko natin. Marami tayong kagamitan, asset at personnel, intensify natin presence natin sa WPS [to show that it] belong to our country (Protection of marine resources is included when our ships go on patrol. We now have more resources, assets, and personnel. We are intensifying our presence in the WPS to show it belongs to our country)," he added.
The PCG is primarily tasked with enforcing all applicable laws within Philippine waters, conduct maritime security operations, and safeguard life and property at sea, and protect the maritime environment and resources.
Also, Abu said the PCG's approach to multi-agency patrolling in the WPS is "complementary" and in line with the whole-of-nation approach being utilized by the national government.
"Complementary ang approach natin. Alam natin ang PCG, kami ang nagmamay-ari ng 'white ships' (law enforcement) ng government kaya't nandiyan ang PCG -- ang puting barko (Our approach is complementary, we all know the PCG owns the 'white ships' of the government, so that is why the PCG is there)," he said.
Abu said that the same approach is being used by neighboring countries of the Philippines.
"The PCG, being a universal service, kung ano ang (whatever the) nature of existence of PCG, our mission and function (is) almost the same din sa kanila na (is similar with our neighboring countries). PCG is seagoing and humanitarian service other than being (part of the) uniformed and armed service of the country," Abu said.
And with "white ships", there are less chances of violent confrontations in contested areas, he added. (PNA)
