Philippine Coast Guard

Philippine Coast Guard
Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas
Coat of arms of the Philippine Coast Guard
Founded October 10, 1967 (1967-10-10)
Country  Philippines
Type Coast guard
Role Maritime law enforcement, Maritime Environment Protection, Maritime Safety, search and rescue, Maritime security, Humanitarian Aid
Part of Department of Transportation
Garrison/HQ Port Area, Manila
Motto(s) "Saving Lives"
Mascot(s) Dolphin "Kapitan Dolpino"
Anniversaries October 17, Coast Guard Day
Website www.coastguard.gov.ph
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
Secretary of Transportation Arthur Tugade
Commandant ADM Elson E Hermogino PCG
Deputy Commandant for Administratrion RADM Joel S Garcia PCG PhD, HD, Al-Haj
Deputy Commandant for Operations RADM Rolando D Legaspi PCG
Command Master Chief Petty Officer FMCPO Guimel Dolino PCG
Insignia
Mark
Jack
Coast Guard patrol vessel BRP Pampanga (SARV 003) in formation in the Celebes Sea during joint military exercises with the Philippine Navy with the United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, July 2012

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) (Filipino: Tanod Baybayin ng Pilipinas) is an armed and uniformed service tasked primarily with enforcing laws within Philippine waters, conducting maritime security operations, safeguarding life and property at sea, and protecting marine environment and resources; similar to coast guards around the world.

It is an agency attached to the Department of Transportation of the Philippines. It currently maintains a presence throughout the archipelago, with twelve Coast Guard Districts, fifty-four CG Stations and over one hundred ninety Coast Guard Sub-Stations, from Basco, Batanes to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.[1]

History

The Philippine Coast Guard is the oldest and only humanitarian armed service in the Philippines. Its beginnings could be traced back to the early 20th century when coast guarding was related to the protection of the customs services of the country and in patrolling the coastlines and harbors.

When the Americans came in 1898, one of the first steps that the military government undertook was the reopening of the port and customs facilities of Manila. Soon after, the civilian Insular Government, through the Philippine Commission, enacted a law on 17 October 1901 that created the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation, which was placed under the Department of Commerce and Police. The Captain of the Port was designated as Bureau Director.

The lighthouse service was placed under the Bureau. In 1902, the Coast Guard fleet of 15 steamers from China and Japan was established and were assigned for the lighthouse service inspection trips of top government officials, for transport to Culion Island, for patrolling against illegal entry of aliens, and for troop movement of the Philippine Constabulary.

The Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation was abolished on 26 October 1905 and the Bureau of Navigation took over its functions. The Bureau of Navigation was authorized to create a commissioned and enlisted service, and to adopt its own manual of court martial patterned after the US Navy.

Subsequently, however, the Bureau was also abolished on 19 December 1913 and the organization and its functions were transferred to the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Public Works until the establishment of the Commonwealth Government. After gaining independence from the United States, the Philippine government ceded some of the coast guard functions, such as the revenue cutter and lighthouse services, to the Philippine Naval Patrol, which eventually became the Philippine Navy. A Coast Guard unit was activated within the Philippine Navy to implement these functions.

On 6 August 1967, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act 5173 of the Philippine Coast Guard Law, which made the PCG a major unit of the Philippine Navy under a flag officer. The PCG was activated on 10 October 1967 and its coast guard functions were transferred from the navy.

The civilian nature of the PCG functions led to the separation of the Coast Guard from the Philippine Navy on 30 March 1998 by virtue of Executive Order 475 signed by President Fidel Ramos. It order effectively transferred the PCG from the Department of National Defense to the Office of the President, and eventually to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) on 15 April 1998 by virtue of Executive Order 477.

These executive orders provided inter alia that the PCG shall continue to the agency primarily responsible for the promotion of safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the maritime environment as mandated under the Philippine Coast Guard Law and Presidential Decrees 600, 601, 602, and 979, as a mended.

The transformation of the PCG into a non-military organization has a tremendous impact and significance. Its civilian character has allowed it to receive offers of vessels, equipment, technology, services, cooperation and other needed assistance from other countries, something which would not be readily offered to a military agency.

With enactment of Republic Act 9993, also known as the Coast Guard Law of 2009, as well as its implementing rules and regulations, the PCG has been vested with the necessary authority and responsibility to perform preventive measures in ensuring the safety of merchant vessels. The new law also strengthened PCG’s authority to meet new challenges and increasing demands for marine resources, technological advancement and climate change. Further, the law has defined the PCG’s rightful niche in the bureaucracy as the premier maritime agency and its vital role in nation building.

Organization

Ranks

Commissioned Officer Ranks

  • Admiral (ADM) – General
  • Vice Admiral (VADM) – Lieutenant General
  • Rear Admiral (RADM) – Major General
  • Commodore (COMMO) – Brigadier General
  • Captain (CAPT) – Colonel
  • Commander (CDR) – Lieutenant Colonel
  • Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) – Major
  • Lieutenant (LT) – Captain
  • Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) – 1st Lieutenant
  • Ensign (ENS) – 2nd Lieutenant
  • Probationary Ensign (P/ENS) – Trainee Rank or awaiting for Commissionship/Probationary 2nd Lieutenant

Non Commissioned Officer/Enlisted Ranks -

  • First Master Chief Petty Officer (FMCPO) – First Chief Master Sergeant
  • Master Chief Petty Officer (MCPO) – Chief Master Sergeant
  • Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) – Senior Master Sergeant
  • Chief Petty Officer (CPO) – Master Sergeant
  • Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) – Technical Sergeant
  • Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) – Staff Sergeant
  • Petty Officer 3rd Class (PO3) – Sergeant
  • Seaman First Class (SN1) – Corporal
  • Seaman Second Class (SN2) – Private First Class
  • Apprentice Seaman (ASN) – Private
  • Candidate Coast Guardsman (CCGM) – Candidate Soldier

Coast Guard Districts

  • Coast Guard District Northeastern Luzon
  • Coast Guard District Northwestern Luzon
  • Coast Guard District National Capital Region - Central Luzon
  • Coast Guard District Southern Tagalog
  • Coast Guard District Palawan
  • Coast Guard District Bicol
  • Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas
  • Coast Guard District Western Visayas
  • Coast Guard District Central Visayas
  • Coast Guard District Southern Visayas
  • Coast Guard District Northern Mindanao
  • Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao
  • Coast Guard District Southwestern Mindanao

Units

The Philippine Coast Guard's functional command units include:

•The Maritime Security & Law Enforcement Command (MARSLEC)

•Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM)

•Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC)

The PCG used to be with the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Philippine Navy before it was transferred to the Department of Transportation. The PCG is considered the third armed and uniformed service of the country primarily tasked with enforcing all applicable laws within the Philippine waters, conducting maritime security operations, safeguarding of life and property at sea and protecting the marine environment and resources. Now under the Department of Transportation or DOTr.

Due to the M/V Super Ferry 14 bombing incident in 2004, the PCG activated the Task Force Sea Marshals a composite team from the PCG, AFP and Philippine National Police. These Sea Marshals ride on many passenger ferries traveling to and from Manila, and maintain a security presence aboard these ferries.

Coast Guard Aviation Force

The Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF), then known as Coast Guard Air Group was formally activated on 18 May 1998 during the incumbency of Commodore Manuel I de Leon PCG as Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard. Accordingly, Commander Noel O Monte PCG was designated as its first Commander holding office at the former PADC Hangar Nr. 3, Domestic Airport Complex, Pasay City.

On 22 January 1999, after eight months of existence, PCGAG acquired its first aircraft, a BN Islander from the Philippine National Oil Company – Energy Development Corporation (PNOC – EDC). After six months of intensive inspection and rehabilitation, it was commissioned into Coast Guard service on 26 June 1999 as PCG–251. On June 1999, the first helicopter, a MBB BO-105CB was acquired from PADC and commissioned with the tail number PCG–1636. Another aircraft, a Cessna 421B "Golden Eagle" was acquired without cost from the Bureau of Soils and Water Management sometime in the early part of 2000. However, due to budgetary constraints, the aircraft rehabilitation is not yet completed to date. In the same year, another BN Islander with the tail number PCG–684 was acquired. It was commissioned and activated on June 2002 after it underwent rehabilitation. On 30 March 2001, the helm of the CGAG was transferred to Captain Lino H Dabi PCG. In search of a bigger home for its growing inventory, on 21 November 2002, with the support of Pantaleon Alvarez, the Secretary of Transportation and Communications, the Manila International Airport Authority allowed CGAG to occupy its present location. Extensive renovation work was undertaken to make the hangar suitable as the nerve center of all Coast Guard Air Operations. On 28 March 2003, the CGAG acquired another BO-105C helicopter from PADC, two aircraft carriers were commissioned into the service as PSN-234 and PCG–145, and PCG-192 during the Group’s 5th Founding Anniversary.

With the intense need to have the capability to extract survivors from water, the said helicopter was fitted with a rescue hoist through the courtesy of the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Another significant milestone unfolded in the history of the group when PCG leadership was turned over to Vice Admiral Arthur Gosingan PCG. Through the endorsement of the CGOF Commander, Rear Admiral Damian Carlos PCG in recognizing the importance of the air unit in coast guard operations and their outstanding accomplishments granted the aviators their most aspired yearning of their careers by approving the group’s position paper on the Command Pilot Rating. This enabled aviators to have an equal opportunity with officers that acquired a Command at a Sea Badge to assume positions of higher responsibilities in the Coast Guard hierarchy.

Special Operations Force

The Philippine Coast Guard's Special Operations Force (CGSOF) is the special forces unit of the Philippine Coast Guard. It performs underwater operations, domestic counter-terrorism and other law enforcement operations. Their notable accomplishments include the operations to the Laoag Air crash at Manila Bay the aftermath of the 2004 M/V Super Ferry 14 bombing and the Search and Recovery operations to the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars incident.[2]

Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary

The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary is the civilian support group of the Philippine Coast Guard. Although a volunteer, civilian organization, the PCGA uses a military structure for organizational purposes. Like other volunteer sea rescue organizations around the world, it performs non-military and non-police activities in support of its national navy or coast guard. This endeavor includes search and rescue, environmental protection, disaster relief, community service, and marine safety.

The ranks of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary follow those of the Philippine Coast Guard.[3]

Note: the PCGA should not be confused to be similar or equivalent to any reserve unit of the military. Since military reservists go through actual pre-entry training and are assigned serial numbers which is kept for life and not maintained by membership fees paid on a yearly basis. Hence, PCGA members are called Auxiliarists.

Ships in service

Major naval assets

Class Photo Type Ships Origin Note
Search and Rescue Vessels
San Juan-classPatrol vesselBRP San Juan
BRP EDSA II
BRP Pampanga
BRP Batangas		 AustraliaBuilt by Tenix. All 4 vessels that are 56 meters in length are in active service and equipped with helipad.[4]
Parola-classPatrol vesselBRP Tubbataha
BRP Malabrigo
BRP Malapascua
BRP Capones
BRP Suluan
BRP Sindangan
BRP Cape San Agustin
BRP Cabra
BRP Bagacay
BRP Cape Engaño
 JapanA new class of 44 meters 10 Multi-Role Response Vessels built by Japan Marine United. All 10 vessels in active service.
Ilocos Norte-classPatrol vesselBRP Ilocos Norte
BRP Nueva Vizcaya
BRP Romblon
BRP Davao del Norte		 AustraliaBuilt by Tenix. All 4 Vessels that are 35 meters in length are in active service.
Bessang Pass-classPatrol boatBRP Bessang Pass
BRP Tirad Pass		 JapanBuilt by Sumidagawa Shipyard. Ex-SAR 99 and SAR 100 acquired from Japan in 1977. Both vessels are currently non-operational.[5]
Agusan-classLarge patrol craftBRP Palawan United StatesSteel-hulled craft built under US military assistance programs. Assigned US PGM-series number while under construction. Transferred to PN upon completion. Currently non-operational, waiting for new gun coupling repairs.[5]
Support Ships
Corregidor-classMarine accident response / buoy tenderBRP Corregidor JapanBuilt by Niigata Engineering in Japan through a soft loan. Commissioned in 3 February 1998 and is currently in active service.[5]
Habagat-classMedium-size ocean tugboatBRP Habagat (TB-271) Japan
Cabo Bojeador-classBuoy tenderBRP Cabo Bojeador
BRP Limasawa		 United StatesBuilt by Ingalls Shipbuilding. BRP Cabo Bojeador is an ex-US Army FS 203 and ex-Philippine Navy TK 46. BRP Limasawa is an ex-USCG Nettle WAK 169, ex-US Army FS 397 and ex-Philippine Navy TK 69. Both ships currently under repair.[5]
Kalinga-classBuoy tenderBRP Kalinga United StatesEx-USCG Balsam-class navigational aid tender, USCGC Redbud (WLB-398) built by Marine Iron and SB Corp. Refitted in Cavite Naval Yard in November 1995. Equipped with a helicopter platform and an ice-breaking bow.[5]
Patrol Craft
Boracay-classFast Patrol BoatBRP Boracay
BRP Kalanggaman
BRP Panglao
BRP Malamawi		 FranceBuilt by French shipbuilder OCEA in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. Four 24-meter FPB (fast patrol boat) 72 Mk. II for multi-role purposes. All four ships will be delivered in 2018.
Swift-classFast patrol craftSwift Mk. 1/Mk. 2: DF 300, DF 301, DF 302, DF 303, DF 307, DF 308, DF 309, DF 310, DF 311, DF 312, DF 313, DF 314, DF 315, DF 316
Swift Mk. 3: DF 318, DF 325, DF 326, DF 327, DF 328, DF 329, DF 330, DF 331, DF 332, DF 334, DF 347, DF 351, DF 352, DF 353, DF 354
 United StatesDFs 302 and 309 seeing limited operation. DFs 300, 303, 308, 314 currently non-operational.
De Havilland series 9209 (DB-type) coastal patrol craftCoastal patrol craftDF 330, DB 411, DB 413, DB 417, DB 419, DB 422, DB 426, DB 429, DB 431, DB 432, DB 433 AustraliaBuilt by De Havilland Marine. Eighty originally ordered by the Philippine Navy in August 1975, but of 25 hulls completed during 1975, 12 were destroyed by fire and the program was terminated. Since then, at least two others have been discarded.[5]
Coast Guard Cutter 103 typecutterCGC 30, CGC 32, CGC 103, CGC 110, CGC 115, CGC 128, CGC 129, CGC 130, CGC 132, CGC 133, CGC 134, CGC 135, CGC 136 United StatesTransferred from the US Navy. Used for harbor police work. One was stricken in 1994, CGCs 30, 32 and 128 currently non-operational.[5]

Minor naval assets

Type Photo # of Ships Origin Note
Aluminum V-shaped hull boat300From multiple suppliersUsed in search-and-rescue and disaster response
Rigid-hulled inflatable boat81From multiple suppliersUsed in search-and-rescue and disaster response
Rubber boat50From multiple suppliersUsed in search-and-rescue and disaster response

Aircraft in service

Aircraft Photo Country of Origin Quantity Notes
Britten-Norman Islander  United Kingdom 2 Tail number: PCG–684, PCG-251
MBB Bo 105  Germany 1 1 of 2 grounded [6] PCG–163 (with hoist) - grounded; PCG-1636 in service . To be replace by Airbus H145
Airbus Helicopters H145  France 7 on order according to Maxdefense

Recent acquisitions

Disaster Response Equipment for Philippine Coast Guard Project

The Project ensures that each of the Philippine Coast Guard's 12 Coast Guard District Headquarters will be assigned two Rubber Boats each for Rescue missions. Furthermore, all 63 Coast Guard Stations and the 237 Coast Guard Detachments will have one Aluminum Boat. Also, all 63 Coast Guard Stations will be equipped with one Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB). Other RHIBs and Rubber Boats will be assigned to PCG Special Units and Search and Rescue vessels.

All the 300 Aluminum Boats, 81 RHIBs and 50 Rubber Boats will be equipped with 2 units VHF handheld marine-type Radio, 2 units Operators' Life Vests, 6 units of Common Life Vests, 1 Megaphone and 4 units of Flares.[7]

It is projected to minimize the instances when PCG personnel borrowing boats from fishermen, or other private entities to perform their duties during emergencies. This resulted in delays in the PCG’s response time, making rescue operations less efficient.[8]

Under this same project but under a different public bidding document,[7] 15 units of M35 6×6 Trucks and 40 units rubber boats were purchased. 3 units of the trucks and all 40 rubber boat units are currently assigned with the National Headquarters of the PCG. The remaining 12 units of the M35 trucks are assigned to each of the 12 Coast Guard Districts. It is expected to further facilitate timely response to disaster situations.

Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project (Phase I)

The Project aims to strengthen and further develop the coast watch/patrol and search and rescue capabilities of Philippine Coast Guard by procuring additional patrol vessels. This will support the PCG in fulfilling its mandate and in complying with the international commitments of the Philippines on maritime safety, security and environmental protection. The vessels are to be deployed in ten (10) PCG Districts Manila, Tacloban, Zamboanga, Puerto Princesa, La Union, Iloilo, San Fernando (La Union), Davao, Legaspi and Cagayan de Oro.[9]

This JICA Project supports PCG, who is responsible of Maritime Safety, to enhance its capabilities to quickly and appropriately respond to coastal maritime incidents, such as search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, etc., by providing Multi-Role Responsive Vessels (MRRVs), thereby increasing the vessel/maritime area rate of each of the 12 districts. The Project is also in line with development policy of the Philippines and assistance strategy of Japan. Therefore, it is relevant that JICA supports the implementation of the Project.[10]

During Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs visit to Philippines on January 2013, Minister Fumio Kishida underscored the role of Japan as the Philippines' strategic ally. In the conference, he stressed Japan would provide 10 patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard on a loan basis.[11][12] Shinzo Abe confirmed that 10 patrol boats will be swiftly donated to the Coast Guard.[13] President Aquino and Prime Minister Abe witnessed the signing of a $187-million (18.732 billion yen) loan for the Philippines’ acquisition of multi-role response vessels to boost the capability of its coast guard to conduct maritime patrols.[14]

Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project for the Philippine Coast Guard (Phase II)

The project involves the acquisition of two (2) heavy weather, high endurance 94-meter Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs), to provide the PCG with vessels with a cruising range capability of 4,000 nautical miles, can be used in Sea-State 6 (wave height of up to 6 meters) in rough sea condition, and are capable to conduct continuous maritime patrol up to 15 days at 15 knots. Each vessel, as claimed by PCG, will enable them to recover as much as 500 passengers in the event of a maritime disaster, as well as provide the country with wider maritime coverage for strategic and national security purposes. Given these upgraded vessel capacities, the project now costs PhP8 billion and with the NEDA Board approval, are expected to be delivered by November 2020 and March 2021 for each vessel, respectively.[15]

Philippine Ports and Coast Guard Capability Development Project

The project aims to strengthen the Philippine Coast Guard’s capability to promote safety of life, protect the marine environment and enforce maritime laws through procurement of four brand new 24-meter OCEA FPV 72MKII patrol boats and one 82-meter 270 MKII offshore patrol vessel.[16][17]

The budget from this project came from the loan balance of a French loan that financed the cancelled Greater Maritime Access Ports Project of the Arroyo administration.[18]

Maritime Disaster Response Helicopter Acquisition Project

The project involves the procurement of seven Maritime Disaster Response (MDR) helicopters for the Philippine Coast Guard to strengthen and expand their MDR capabilities during maritime incidents and natural disasters and calamities. The project will also involve the training of pilots and technical crew, procurement of mission equipment, procurement of maintenance tools and spare parts for five years, and the construction of hangars for the helicopters and offices for the pilots and technical crew.[19][20] It was supposed to be funded by the Credit Agricole of Germany.[21][22][23]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ "Mission - Pulse of the Maritime Environment · Philippine Coast Guard — News". Archived from the original on 2008-07-01. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  2. ↑ Number of missing passengers rises. Retrieved on June 21, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Ranks". Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary 609th Squadron. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "Status of the PCG Tenix boats". Timawa.net. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "PCG Ships and Auxiliaries". Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  6. ↑ "Phl beefing up sea patrol assets - Philstar.com". philstar.com.
  7. 1 2 "Disaster Response Equipment for Philippine Coast Guard Project" (PDF). Department of Transportation and Communications. 2012-07-10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  8. ↑ "DOTC, PCG allocates another Php152M in addition to the earlier PhP521M purchase of Disaster Response Equipment" (PDF). Department of Transportation and Communications. 2012-09-07. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  9. ↑ "NEDA Official Development Assistance Projects' Status" (PDF). National Economic and Development Authority. 2010-03-01. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  10. ↑ "Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)" (PDF). JICA. 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  11. ↑ "Acquisition of Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs)". www.neda.gov.ph. 2012-11-30. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2012-11-30.
  12. ↑ "Budget for acquisition of Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs)". www.timawa.net. 2012-11-29. Retrieved 2012-11-29.
  13. ↑ News, Kyodo. "Japanese PM confirms 10 ships for Philippine coast guard".
  14. ↑ "JICA and GOP sign agreement for ODA on maritime safety". Japan International Cooperation Agency. 2013-12-14. Retrieved 2014-07-02.
  15. ↑ "Acquisition of Two Large Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs)". www.neda.gov.ph. 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2017-01-25. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  16. ↑ "NEDA BOARD APPROVES SIX PROJECTS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, EDUCATION & AGRICULTURE". www.neda.gov.ph. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  17. ↑ "NEDA board approves 6 projects on infrastructure, education, and agriculture". Philippine Official Gazette. 2013-06-27. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  18. ↑ "Calendar Year 2012 ODA Portfolio Review" (PDF). www.neda.gov.ph. 2013-04-08. Retrieved 2014-07-03.
  19. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  20. ↑ "Philippine National Transport Plan Executive Summary". Department of Transportation and Communications. 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
  21. ↑ http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/BESF/BESF2014/B15.pdf
  22. ↑ http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/BESF/BESF2013/B15.pdf
  23. ↑ http://www.dbm.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/BESF/BESF2012/B/B15.pdf

Bibliography

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