By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
“This is the PCG that works quietly and effectively—and these times, when our seas face greater challenges, we remain steadfast—proving that courage knows no tides and service knows no boundaries.”
Recognizing their indispensable role in public service and territorial defense, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. hailed the hard work and sacrifices of officers and enlisted personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at its 124th anniversary celebration on Thursday.
Marcos noted the efforts of PCG in ensuring the safe passage of 10 million passengers from January to September of this year, as well as in the seizure of nearly P2 billion worth of illegal drugs and smuggled items from perpetrators.
He also recognized the Coast Guard’s humanitarian efforts through programs focused on coastal protection, disaster response, and welfare protection of fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea, on top of daily patrols conducted by PCG vessels in the country’s maritime domain.
President Marcos said in his speech, “Alam ko po na hindi madali para sa ating mangingisda na maghanapbuhay nang walang katiyakan sa kanilang pagbabalik. And yet, when they see you carrying the flag at sea, they feel hope that the Filipino spirit will never yield and that they are always in the hearts and minds of all the Filipinos and our uniformed officers.”
He cited PCG’s disaster response in the wake of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked Cebu on Sept. 30 as an example of the agency’s countless exemplary works, “Within the first crucial 72 hours, your medical personnel were on the ground conducting over 100 medical interventions to affected individuals. Your ships and personnel brought over 30,000 relief packages and basic medical kits to the towns of Bogo and Daanbantayan.”
Better equipment, facilities in support of PCG initiatives
The President, meanwhile, reaffirmed his support to Coast Guard personnel by vowing to invest in new vessels and aircraft, command posts, and communications systems, citing further improvements to training facilities and logistics to ensure that PCG is adequately equipped to respond to any situation.
He also touted facilities such as the PCG General Hospital, the Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center in Misibis, and the First Responder and Nursing Service Facility, which is focused on preserving the welfare of Coast Guard officers and personnel, whether on land or at sea.
We are also building facilities such as the PCG General Hospital, the Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center in Misibis, and the first responder and nursing serving facility, amongst others, to ensure that your welfare, whether at sea or on land, remains a priority.
The Chief Executive concluded, “Ladies and gentlemen, the PCG is one of the government agencies that restores my faith in the dedication of the workers in government. When I see the PCG in action, I see what the best of government can look like—that is, with discipline, with integrity, with excellence, working as one.”
He expressed optimism in restoring the citizenry’s trust in government institutions, “I know that these are difficult times that we live in; our people’s trust in government has been shaken; we cannot deny that. But I am certain that trust can be regained if we remain transparent and true to our mission.”
Also present at the event were First Lady Vice Admiral Louise Araneta-Marcos, Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Acting Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., and PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
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