Philippine Ports Authority’s (PPA) recent transfer of the K-9 Training Academy to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is expected to enhance port and coastal security in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, November 21, the PPA announced that the K-9 Training Academy aims to set new and higher standards for canine-based safety and protection, positioning itself as the leading provider of K-9 security in the nation.
“With a focus on world-class training, cutting-edge facilities, and expert instructors, the K-9 academy aims to revolutionize K-9 security operations across the country,” stated the PPA.
The K-9 academy, which is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, was officially handed over to the PCG during a ceremony held in Barangay Dolores, Mabalacat, Pampanga, last Wednesday.
“With this transfer, the PCG will further strengthen its counterterrorism, anti-smuggling, and law enforcement efforts at the nation’s critical maritime points of entry,” added the PPA.
During the ceremony, Philippine Ports General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago emphasized that the turnover aims to enhance efficiency, practicality, and cost-effectiveness within the academy.
“This is so we will have a uniform standard and one set of rules for quality K-9 service throughout the entire country,” Santiago remarked.
He also highlighted that both the PPA and PCG would maintain strong ties, noting that this turnover is just the beginning of expanding K-9 services and assets.
“In the coming months, we will invest in programs from the PPA and PCG to boost the capacity of the latter’s K-9 command,” he stated.
Meanwhile, according to the Coast Guard K-9 Force, the new training facility will be utilized to develop highly skilled trainees and working dogs.
This initiative is designed to strengthen the capacity of the PCG by recruiting only K-9 members and working dogs to support various maritime security operations.
The CGK9 Force emphasized that relocating to this training facility represents a significant step toward enhancing maritime security in the country through effective training and professional handling of K-9 units.
The K-9 academy is equipped to train at least 128 dogs and 100 handlers. It features several specialized sections, including a canine development center, a canine school, a breeding center for canines, a canine hospital, and a kennel management and biosecurity unit.
These facilities are designed to provide comprehensive training for various K-9 roles such as bomb threat detection, fugitive apprehension, narcotics interception, and other security-related functions.
