MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday assured the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) the provision of necessary resources and infrastructure to boost the country’s maritime safety and security capabilities.
During the PCG’s 2025 New Year’s Call, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista called on the PCG to continue the performance of their duties in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and assert the country’s maritime interests.
“We aim to provide the PCG with the resources, infrastructure, and policy backing it needs to fulfill its mission,” Bautista said.
“Let us continue to work hand in hand to advance maritime safety, security and marine protection.”
The recent deployment of the PCG’s modern assets and the use of “enhanced operational strategies” in the WPS, Bautista said, have amplified the country’s capacity to respond quickly and decisively.
“Your efforts in patrolling our maritime zones, responding to incursions, and upholding our territorial integrity have not gone unnoticed,” he added.
The DOTr chief also sought the expansion of the PCG’s workforce from the current 30,000 uniformed personnel to 34,000.
“Moving forward, let us strive to enhance our operational readiness and training, ensuring that the PCG remains synonymous with reliability and professionalism,” Bautista said.
The PCG, through its BRP Gabriela Silang, is currently monitoring the movements of China Coast Guard vessel 5901, also known as a “monster ship” because of its size, which was last spotted 60 to 70 nautical miles from the coastline of Zambales province.
The National Maritime Council (NMC) has opposed the continued illegal presence and activities of Chinese vessels in Philippine waters, saying it violates Republic Act 12064, or the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as the 2016 arbitral ruling that affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its maritime zones, especially in the WPS. (PNA)