President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday commended the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for steadfastly protecting the country’s territory and sovereign rights, emphasizing that its presence is most crucial and symbolic in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Speaking at the oath-taking ceremony of 29 newly promoted Coast Guard officers in Malacañang, President Marcos also promised to enhance the PCG’s capabilities so that it can better fulfill its duties in the face of geopolitical challenges.
“Perhaps nowhere is your presence more crucial than in the West Philippine Sea,” the President said.
“Your continued patrols across the Kalayaan Island Group, the Philippine Rise, and our other maritime zones reaffirm our unwavering commitment to our sovereign rights. The missions are declarations: we will always stand for what is ours, and we will do so with dignity, with integrity, [and] with strength,” President Marcos added.
The President said his administration supports the PCG in boosting its capabilities through advanced vessels, technologies, and support systems that reflect the scale and urgency of its work.
“In a time of global instability and rising maritime tensions, we look to you, together with the Philippine Navy and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, to stand the ground in stormy seas and never waver in what is right,” the President stressed.
The President recognized PCG’s conduct of maritime patrols and domain awareness activities and its valuable partnerships with the United States, Japan, and the Philippines’ ASEAN neighbors through joint patrols and port visits.
“These are strategic actions that preserve peace, that ensure the freedom of navigation,
and protect the livelihoods of our fishermen who rely on these waters,” President Marcos said.
The Chief Executive vowed to support PCG personnel and their families, saying that in addition to the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program, the President signed the Free Legal Assistance for Military and Uniformed Personnel Act last month.
The new law, Republic Act No. 12177, benefits personnel who face civil, criminal, or administrative cases arising from performing their duties. | PND
