Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Armanda Balilo said Thursday that the PCG is recruiting additional personnel and preparing more assets to strengthen its functions.
According to Balilo, they are enlisting up to 4,000 personnel, pending approval of the budget from the Department of Budget and Management.
“We have 4,000 personnel na naka-ready for recruitment. Hinihintay lang natin ang go signal ng DBM. Kailangan talaga namin ng personnel and of course, assets,” he said.
Balilo revealed that they are also hoping to receive at least two 94-meter multi-role response vessels from Japan, which would assist in sustaining their monitoring activities in the West Philippine Sea.
“Nakikipag-negotiate din ang PCG para madagdagan ang offshore patrol vessels natin galing ng France,” he added.
The BRP Gabriela Silang, an 84-meter OPV acquired from France last year, is currently the only offshore patrol vessel of the PCG.
Last April 23, the PCG, together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, conducted joint maritime exercises in Kalayaan Group of Islands and Bajo de Masinloc in the West Philippine Sea.
They are now making preparations for the second leg of training exercises, which will be conducted in the Batanes Group of Islands and the Benham Rise, Balilo said.
“This is para ma-optimize ‘yung aming operational readiness o para ma-train namin ang personnel namin for coast guard functions,” he added.
