By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has activated the Coast Guard Auxiliary District Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), boosting its presence on Pag-asa Island and in the West Philippine Sea with residents as volunteer partners.
In a statement on Wednesday, PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan said the activation formalizes the partnership between the island’s civilians and the Coast Guard.
“The activation of the Auxiliary District here in Pag-asa means that the civilians of Kalayaan now stand shoulder to shoulder with your Coast Guard. Volunteerism is not only about responding to emergencies; it is also about showing the world that Filipinos live here, serve here, and will continue to protect what is rightfully ours,” Adm. Gavan said.
The activation complements the establishment of the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group, which has boosted the PCG’s presence in the KIG by enabling faster response, better sustainment of operations, and closer coordination with the Municipality of Kalayaan and other government agencies.
Adm. Gavan led the activation at the covered court of Pag-asa Island.
Kalayaan Mayor Beltsazar “Billy” Alindogan led the new members in their oath-taking. They included teachers of the Department of Education, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and officials of the Kalayaan local government unit.
Adm. also congratulated the youth of Pag-asa Island who graduated as Sea Scouts after completing PCG-led training in Basic Life Support and Water Search and Rescue, commending them for equipping themselves with life-saving skills that will directly benefit their families and their island community. The graduates also received school bags from the Operation Brotherhood Community Montessori.
During the event, he recognized PCG personnel who responded to a blast fishing incident near Pag-asa Island on Oct. 4.
An interagency team led by the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group responded to a report of suspected blast fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island, within the territorial sea of the Philippines. The team included personnel from the Philippine Navy, including Marines, and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.
Adm. Gavan lauded the responders for their professionalism, courage and restraint in enforcing Philippine laws against a practice that damages coral reefs and depletes the fish stocks that Filipino fisherfolk in the KIG depend on.
“What you did last Sunday was a routine law enforcement operation, but you carried it out under conditions that were anything but routine. You showed that the Philippine Coast Guard will not abandon its duty to protect our marine resources, even under intimidation,” he said.
These initiatives are in accordance with the guidance of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has called for a culture of preparedness and a whole-of-society approach to building resilience.
