Philippine Coast Guard



The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) (Filipino: Hukbong Bantay Dagat 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 and Communications 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 CG detachments, from Basco, Batanes to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

Units
The Philippine Coast Guard's major units include the Maritime Security and Law Enforcement Command (MSLEC) [formerly known as the Coast Guard Operating Forces (CGOF)], Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM), Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC) [formerly known as Aids to Navigation Command (ANC)], and the Coast Guard Education and Training Command (CGETC). Among the PCG's special units are the Coast Guard Fleet, Coast Guard Aviation Group, Coast Guard Special Operations Group, and the CG K-9 Unit. The PCG used to be under the Armed Forces of the Philippines but is now fully under civilian authority within the Department of Transportation & Communication.

The PCG is an armed and uniformed service 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.

Due to an increase in terrorist attacks, 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 Air Group
The Coast Guard Air Group (CGAG) was formally activated on 18 May 1998 during the incumbency of Commodore Manuel de Leon as Commandant, PCG. Accordingly, Commander Noel Monte 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, CGAG 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 Darbi. In search of a bigger home for its growing inventory, on 21 November 2002, with the support of the SOTC, Pantaleon Alvarez, 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. Through the endorsement of the CGOF Commander, Rear Admiral Damian Carlos 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. Today, the mantle of CGAG was entrusted to Commodore Aaron Reconquista.

Special Operations Group
The Philippine Coast Guard's Special Operations Group (CGSOG) is the special forces unit of the Philippine Coast Guard. It is a domestic counter-terrorism and law enforcement unit directly under its control; particularly notable for their involvement in the aftermath of the 2004 SuperFerry 14 bombing.

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.

History
The new Philippine Coast Guard law (RA 9993, the “Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009” ) established the guard as a distinct law enforcement identity (sui generis).

The PCG has been expanding its capabilities for the last 9 years.

Ships in service

 * Note: Some BFAR ships/boats are manned by PCG personnel.

Acquisitions
On 30 October 2012, it was announced in the media that the Philippines would buy five patrol boats from France for approximately 90 million euros ($116 million). Rear Admiral Luis Tuason, chief of the coastguard, said one 82-metre (271-foot) ship and four 24-metre (79-foot) patrol crafts would be delivered by 2014.

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. Shinzo Abe confirmed that 10 patrol boats will be swiftly donated to the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard will acquire the French P400 class patrol boat "La Tapaguese" worth 6 million euros. The PCG will acquire the pre-owned La Tapageuse at a reasonable price where it will undergo dry-docking for repair and refurbishing during the next nine months in France. It is expected to arrive in the country in April next year.

During a September 2013 interview with the Defence IQ Press, Rear Admiral Cecil Chen, Vice Commandant for Administration of the Philippine Coast Guard, revealed the PCG acquisition efforts, "Notably procurement proceedings are underway for the acquisition of ten (10) 40-meter Multi Role Response Vessels from Japan, one (1) 54-meter pre-owned naval vessel from France, and seven (7) Bell helicopters. Also in the pipeline is the procurement of four (4) 24-meter fast patrol boats and one (1) 82-meter offshore patrol vessel. Additionally, the PCG is already in the process of acquiring more equipment purposely for use during disaster relief and emergency response operations with a target acquisition of ninety (90) rubber boats, eighty (80) rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB), three hundred (300) aluminum-hulled rescue boats and six (6) jet ski personal watercraft units."

Multi-purpose Maritime Helicopters
This acquisition project was a "priority". The helicopters must have multi-mission capability and autopilot. It must also have small ship take-off/landing capability, with twin engines and a high payload. The helicopters will be the EC-145 of which 2 units were purchased as of February 2012 with delivery expected soon.