PH beefing up sea patrol assets
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine government is ramping up efforts to modernize the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with the procurement of at least 46 new maritime vessels, a senior transportation official told NewsWatch Plus on Monday, Sept. 23.
As PCG vessels sustain damage from ramming incidents involving the Chinese Coast Guard in the West Philippine Sea, including the latest incident with the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) acknowledges the urgent need for additional assets.
"We don't have enough but we're trying to cover yung mga sensitive areas that should be covered based on what we have," said Transportation Undersecretary for Maritime Sector Elmer Sarmiento.
Sarmiento added that there is already a "shopping list" of maritime assets the Philippine government is eyeing to procure.
"Marami tayong plano (we have plans). As you're aware already, we have ordered already the five multi-role response vessels (MRRVs), 97-meter. We're adding the 61-meter also under the budget of 2024, and subject to NEDA's approval, and I hope we will have that approval. And I hope we have the money to buy 40 fast patrol boats," Sarmiento said.
The five MRRVs have been financed through a JPY 64.38-billion loan under Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) program. The acquisition agreement was signed last May by Manila and Tokyo.
The 61-meter vessel has been funded under the 2024 budget but still needs to undergo the required bidding process.
As for the 40 fast patrol boats, the DOTr said France could be a potential partner, although this is still subject to procurement laws.
"There are sellers who are very attractive but we're changing also the procurement method of PCG from supplier-driven to strategic. Ang importante pa, we're on the modernization of Philippine Coast Guard," Sarmiento added.
The transportation official hopes to finalize the new procurement system by the end of the year.
"So once we have this, we have already a shopping list kung ano yung bibili natin (of what we are going to buy)," he concluded.
