President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Vice Admiral Joel Garcia as the 28th commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, succeeding Admiral Elson Hermogino who will retire this week.
Garcia will assume the post on Thursday.
Before his appointment, Garcia served as deputy commandant for administration and as director of the National Coast Watch Center under the Office of the President.
NCWC gathers surveillance data from the Coast Guard, Navy, Bureau of Fisheries and the police Maritime Group to provide a comprehensive picture of maritime security in the country.
Garcia graduated from the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in 1985.
He obtained his Masters of Science degree in Maritime Safety Administration from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, and his Masters in Shipping Management from the PMMA.
Garcia is also a professor in Maritime Administration and Environmental Economics at the PMMA graduate school.
From 2003-2010, he was a member of the Technical Panels in Humanities and Maritime Education of the Commission on Higher Education.
“We are confident that the incoming commandant, a man of vast knowledge, competence and integrity, will continue to lead and advance the PCG to greater heights,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
The PCG also thanked Duterte for appointing Garcia, whom they called a “visionary leader.”
“The Command is very thankful to the President for choosing a visionary leader who cares for the welfare of his subordinates and is passionate in accomplishing the PCG’s mandates, PCG Spokesman Captain Armando Balilo said.
