The Philippine Coast Guard is taking another step in the right direction by continuing to beef up its workforce so it can more effectively safeguard our territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea.
News reports indicate a total 4,220 new recruits have started training at various regional training centers of the PCG nationwide, bringing its current workforce to more than 30,000.
The new recruits are composed of 400 Coast Guard Officer’s Course trainees under Class 30, and 3,820 Coast Guard Non-Officer’s Course trainees under Classes 100 to 107.
They undergo training at the PCG regional training centers in Bataan, Taguig, Misamis Oriental, Aurora, Capiz, La Union, Masbate, and Zamboanga.
Another 300 recruits will undergo a six-month training course at the PCG Regional Training Center Dolores in Eastern Visayas later this month focusing on drills, basic soldiery, and Coast Guard rules and regulations.
They will also be given lessons on maritime security, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection.
The PCG plans to recruit 4,000 additional personnel next year and 3,000 more by 2025, which will bring its total workforce to more than 37,000 – a 185-percent increase in its manpower in just six years.
In 2019, the PCG only had about 13,000 personnel.
Strengthening the PCG with recruitment of more personnel and acquisition of more patrol vessels has assumed urgency amid tensions between the Philippines and China in the West Philippine Sea.
On October 13, a Chinese Navy warship carried out what our Armed Forces has called “dangerous maneuvers” when it crossed a Philippine Navy transport ship’s bow at a distance of 350 yards, the latest aggressive action of Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.
Reports indicate the Philippine Navy’s BRP Benguet was at 5.8 nautical miles southwest of Pag-asa (Thitu) Island en route to Rizal (Commodore) Reef for a regular rotation and resupply mission when it was shadowed by People’s Liberation Army Navy ship 621 at a distance of 80 yards and attempted to cross its bow with a closest point of approach at 350 yards.
We agree with AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. that this is another instance of “dangerous and offensive maneuvers by China’s PLAN 9 (that) not only risk collision but also directly endanger the lives of maritime personnel on both sides.”
The Philippines should now accelerate efforts to strengthen its military outposts on nine reefs and islands in the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea as China’s aggressive maneuvers and harassment of our naval vessels are a clear infringement of our sovereign rights and blatant violations of international law.