PCG

Defense, Ship-Design, Shipbuilding 24-May-2021

Hamilton Class Weather High Endurance Cutter (WHEC) – Proven Suitability for the Missions of both Coast Guard and Navy

History The Hamilton WHEC was constructed beginning in the 1960s, and they were intended to fulfill both Coast Guard peacetime and wartime requirements, and serve alongside the Navy. During the Vietnam War, several types of vessels supported the “Operation Market Time,” provided patrol duties, boarding and inspection of North Vietnamese vessels and boats, conducted naval gunfire support, missions, and medical…

Maritime Law 24-May-2021

Strengthening our Inter-Agency Cooperation to protect our National Interests

Introduction. The lack of maritime domain awareness and lack of expertise among countries in managing their maritime domain has allowed proliferation of lawlessness and crime on the seas. Organized crime and terrorism have become interconnected and more complex. A Philippine flag flutters from BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has run aground since 1999 and became a…

Chairman's Page, National Affairs 23-Mar-2021

Some Notes on the Inter-Organizational Coordination

Early this year, a joint team of the Bureau of Customs (BUCUS) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) apprehended a Chinese dredger “MV Zhonhai 68” for illegal and unauthorized presence in Philippine waters. Carrying a Sierra Leone flag and operated by Malaysian-registered HK Weifeng Hangyu Co. Ltd., the vessel was cleared by Cagayan Province authorities to leave the country more…

Defense, National Affairs 23-Mar-2021

AMENDING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE ACT [NDA]: PHILIPPINE NAVY

In his inaugural speech as FOIC PN, VADM Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo highlighted 3 priority programs, namely: boost the capacity of the Naval Sea Systems Command; implement skills specialization for its personnel; and lastly, to modernize the mindset of every sailor and marine.[1] In this connection, Commander Jay Tristan Tarriela PCG, in an article at the Diplomat, averred that until…

Coast Guard, Defense, Maritime Security 26-Nov-2020

Navy Chief Affirms Cooperation with Philippine Coast Guard and NCWC

NAVAL STATION JOSE ANDRADA, Manila, September 29 – Philippine Navy (PN) Fag Officer in Command, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo visited the headquarters of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) at South Harbor, Manila as a gesture of affirming stronger inter-agency cooperation. VAdm Bacordo met with PCG Commandant and fellow member of PMA “Hinirang Class of 1987, Admiral George Ursabia Jr,…

Coast Guard, Defense, Maritime Security 26-Nov-2020

PCG holds sailing demonstration of BRP Gabriela Silang in Manila Bay

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) held a sailing demonstration of the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) at the vicinity waters 25 nautical miles off Port of Manila on 15-September-2020. PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr personally welcomed Philippine National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin N Lorenzana and Philippine Navy (PN) Flag-Officer-In-Command, Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo J Bacordo who witnessed the activity….

Domestic Shipping, International Shipping, Ports and Harbors 21-Oct-2020

PPA’s 46 Years of Promoting Nation-Building Through integrity and dedicated public service in ports for every Filipino

The year 2020 was supposed to be a prosperous year for the entire world according to fortune-tellers. Everybody was upbeat. The business community, government economic leaders, and GOCCs like the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) were anticipating unprecedented opportunities ushered in by the new year and a new decade. And then, disaster struck. In the first quarter of the year alone,…

Coast Guard, Profiles 19-Aug-2020

VICE ADMIRAL GEORGE VILLAREAL URSABIA JR PCG 27th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard

Born on 8-September-1965 in Polomok, South Cotabato, the 27th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, VICE ADMIRAL GEORGE VILLAREAL URSABIA JR PCG was raised by his parents – the late George Kiamco Ursabia Sr and Guia Villareal-Ursabia to be a person with discipline, perseverance, and a hard worker in pursuing greater heights. He internalized these values, which lead him to…

Coast Guard, National Affairs 19-Aug-2020

The New PCG Commandant Charts the Future Strategic Direction of The Philippine Coast Guard

The recently installed Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, VICE ADMIRAL GEORGE URSABIA PCG is leading the charge towards the future direction of the organization. He is revitalizing the formulation of strategic plans that ensures PCG operations, organizational and capability development are in support of the ends of higher-level national policies, fulfill its five (5) primary mandates, and provide an…

Coast Guard, Defense, National Affairs 19-Aug-2020

Philippine Coast Guard to get its Biggest Patrol Ships

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has concluded an agreement with the Republic of the Philippines to construct 2 multi-role response vessels (MRRVs). These vessels will be built at Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works, and are scheduled for delivery to the Philippine Coast Guard in 2022. With a length of about 94 meters, the MRRVs…

Coast Guard, National Affairs 19-Aug-2020

Aiding the Nation Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: We Heal as One with the Philippine Coast Guard

The Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has stricken a lot of countries globally including the Philippines, affecting people’s welfare, socio-economic condition of the country, and government resilience and thinking on ways to respond to the interconnecting issues brought by this pandemic. This pandemic has led the world to enter into a ‘new normal’ set up under adherence of strict health awareness and…

Maritime Health, National Affairs, Ports and Harbors 19-Aug-2020

PPA Manila South Harbor Retrofits Terminal into COVID-19 Treatment Facility

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) opened the South Harbor Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) medical treatment facility on April 21, earlier than expected. PPA fast-tracked the completion of the facility in its bid to boost the medical treatment capacity of the National Capital Region as well as its nearby cities and provinces, which has been lacking due to the increasing number…

Maritime Forum, Maritime History, National Affairs 6-May-2020

A Tribute to Commo Carlos L Agustin AFP (Ret),RIP, Chairman – Maritime Forum, President – Maritime League

A native of Manila, Commodore Carlos Leong Agustin AFP (Ret) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD, USA in 1960. He took Weapons Systems Engineering at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA; Naval Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London, UK; NR course in National Security Management at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces,…

Coast Guard, IMO, Marine Environment, Maritime Safety 6-May-2020

PCG and Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) Sign MOU

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enhance the country’s capability to respond to oil spill in the morning of 24-February-2020. Vice Admiral George Ursabia of the PCG – Marine Environment Protection Command (MEPCOM) expressed his gratitude to the OSRL for their willingness to assist the PCG…

Chairman's Page, Coast Guard, Defense, National Affairs 20-Sep-2019

The Navy-Coast Guard Quandary

Reviewing some of my past email, I came across a June 23, 2011 query from a Philippine Marine reserve officer, Frank Suha, who has been living in the United States for many years: There is recent news that PCG is planning to buy brand-new high endurance cutters/vessels – this will be a big help in the West Philippine Sea issue….

Coast Guard, Defense, Shipbuilding 20-Sep-2019

PCG’s First Offshore Patrol Vessel Formally Launched in France

The Philippine Coast Guard’s first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) was formally launched in OCEA shipyard in France on July 17. PCG Commandant Admiral Elson E Hermogino, with the Deputy Chief of PCG Staff for Strategic Studies and Modernization, Captain Ferdinan B Picar, PCG Spokesperson Captain Armando A Balilo, and officials from Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)…

Coast Guard, Maritime Safety, National Affairs 26-Jul-2019

Coast Guard Presents Newly Acquired Rescue Assets

As part of the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) capability development program, newly acquired rescue boats, vehicles and other equipment were presented yesterday, 30-May-2019, to beef up the agency’s readiness for the expected threats of typhoons that may hit the country this year. During the blessing and launching ceremony at the PCG Headquarters yesterday, the PCG Commandant Admiral Elson E Hermogino,…

Defense, Maritime Security, National Affairs 24-May-2019

Consolidating Our Maritime Forces

To be relevant and to survive, many profit-oriented organizations positively react to their changing operational environment. They are cognizant that the very thing to expect over time is change. As a consequence, they revise their structure to support a new corporate strategy with the aim to improve efficiency, promote teamwork and reduce cost. These changes could lead to mergers, acquisitions,…

Events, National Affairs 24-May-2019

Philippine Coast Guard bags DSWD ”PaNata Award”

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), through its Civil Relations Service (CRS), conducted four sorties of relief, psychological, social, medical and dental missions in the evacuation areas of Iligan and Marawi City. The PCG also sent alternately BRP Corregidor and BRP Pampanga to transport food packs from DSWD, and school supplies from Manila to the Iligan Port. Captain Armando Balilo, Acting…

Domestic Shipping, MARINA, National Affairs 24-May-2019

MARINA Inaugurates New Central Office Building

Finally, after more than 4 decades, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has a home to call its own. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has inaugurated its newly constructed central office building on Bonifacio Drive corner 20th Street at Port Area, Manila. The 12,000-square meter 12-storey building was constructed with a cost of PHP382 million through the assistance of the Department…