Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 13) – It will take the Philippine Coast Guard more than a decade to achieve a strength of 75,000 people to adequately man the country’s coasts, a ranking official said on Monday.
“According to our computation, (it can be achieved by) 2035,” said Vice Admiral Oscar Endona, Jr., PCG deputy commandant for administration in a Senate hearing.
The coast guard counts more than 20,000 personnel. Endona said the unit can enlist only 4,000 people per year, with a projected complement of 26,430 in 2022.
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, public services committee chairman, said the figure is even “way below” the initial target of one personnel per coastal kilometer. Retired and incumbent coast guard officials said the goal is to have two personnel per coastal kilometer.
“We are not only concentrating on the core functions, maritime security, maritime safety, marine pollution, and maritime environmental protection but we are talking of a food and security issue,” said retired Admiral Elpidio Padama.
“One coast guard personnel attending to a one-kilometer coastline is not enough to protect and sustain food security and security itself being a frontliner in the area,” he added.
The PCG is in the frontline in securing the West Philippine Sea.
READ: PCG: PH ready in case of ‘water war’ with China
In a number of bills, the PCG is also requesting an update on its pay scale.
On Monday, Rear Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said PCG personnel are also in need of health cards, considering that there’s only one Philippine Coast Guard Hospital.
Lacson said this needs further study, since the concern should be addressed by the full implementation of the Universal Health Care Act, and benefits for PCG personnel are already listed under the Philippines Coast Guard Law of 2009.
