Coinciding with the Araw Ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor).
On Thursday, April 9, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led the official activation of the new Coast Guard District in the Kalayaan Island Group.
The key mandate of the newly-activated district is to perform maritime security, enforce Philippine laws and assert its country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea.
The move is in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s order to both agencies to expand and establish more coast guard districts in strategic areas in the country’s coastline.
Aside from these will further enhance their capabilities and better protect the Philippines’ maritime domain, it will also assert the country’s sovereignty and enforce maritime laws.
Lopez remarked that the simultaneous activation of the new Coast Guard District in the Kalayaan Island Group on the Day of Valor is the government’s way of showing its full support and recognition of the valuable sacrifices of the PCG personnel.
“Hindi ito isang simbolo lamang, ito ay isang permanenteng hakbang upang maipakita natin na handa ang ating coast guard na ipagtangol ang ating interes sa dagat at ipagtanggol ang ating mga kababayang mangingisda, ang kanilang kabuhayan at higit sa lahat ang ating soberenya,” he said.
The transport chief furthered that President Marcos has recognized the PCG personnel’s sacrifice, dedication and bravery in the face of daily challenges and difficulty of defending the country’s maritime interests, Filipino fishermen and the enforcement of Philippine maritime laws.
“Ang inyong tapat na dedikasyon ang pundasyon ng ating seguridad sa ating karagatan at ang inyong presensya po ang nagpapatunay na paninindigan po natin ang ating pangako na kailanma’y ipaglalaban natin ang soberanya ng Pilipinas,” he added.
For his part, Admiral Gavan noted that the presence of new Coast Guard District in the Kalayaan Island Group will serve as the “beacon of sovereignty and sanctuary for the Filipino people.”
“Ito ay para sa ligtas na karagatan, para sa malayang kalayaan ng Bagong Pilipinas at Kalayaan Islands,” he said.
Senator Erwin Tulfo, meanwhile, assured PCG of the Senate’s “full support” by providing additional funding and advocating for policies which include its modernization to enable its personnel to perform its duties.
In related news, last March 26, the President, through Executive Order No. 111, directed that that 131 features in the Kalayaan Island Group must get standard Filipino names, in accordance with existing maritime laws.
