Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 14) — The Senate moved to increase the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) budget for 2024 by ₱1.3 billion in a bid to beef up the agency amid issues in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
The Senate Committee on Finance allocated around ₱27.1 billion for the PCG, up from the 2024 General Appropriations Bill’s ₱25.7 billion.
It hurdled the chamber’s plenary on Monday night, along with the proposed ₱170 billion spending plan next year of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). Overall, the DOTr’s budget decreased by nearly ₱200 million, according to the committee report.
While the PCG is considered an armed and uniformed service, it is an attached agency of the DOTr.
PCG vessels usually accompany boats during resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre, which was deliberately grounded at Ayungin Shoal in the WPS.
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Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel asked for an explanation about the increased allocation during his interpellation.
Sen. Grace Poe, who defended the DOTr’s budget proposal, said the agency had the highest increase in the department’s budget \”given the scenario that we have right now\” in the WPS.
\”Sila ‘yung ating first line of defense do’n,\” she told the plenary. \”Kung wala namang gasolina para patakbuhin ‘yung mga barko nila, walang mangyayari, hindi tayo makaka-inspect.\”
[Translation: The PCG is our first line of defense in the WPS. If they don’t have fuel to operate their ships, they won’t be able to inspect the area.]
Poe said the PCG spends ₱1.7 billion a year for fuel alone.
The PCG has also a lot of \”inoperable ships\” due to a lack of funds for maintenance, she added.
Pimentel acknowledged the \”critical role\” of the PCG, adding the agency has earned the trust of Congress.
\”Now is the time to tell us what you need, what you want, makikinig ang Kongreso sayo [Congress will listen to you],\” he said. \”Let’s just be careful, let’s not in any way taint the very positive image of the coast guard right now.\”
In a statement Tuesday, the PCG expressed gratitude for the budget increase, saying it would “boost our capability development and daily operations.”
\”This budget increase will significantly augment our operations not only in the West Philippine Sea but also in our fight to combat illegal activities and enforce maritime laws in our borders in the Southern Philippines and Benham Rise in the Eastern Seaboard,\” PCG spokesperson CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said.
Senators had asked the PCG during the budget hearings in September for a wish list. Then-PCG commandant CG Admiral Artemio Abu, who has now retired, asked for ₱600 million more for fuel to conduct patrols on top of the proposed ₱1.7 billion; ₱563 million for retrofitting, dry-docking, repair, and maintenance of vessels; and ₱144 million more for intelligence fund.
The DOTr also said an additional ₱2 billion in the PCG budget will fund the target 4,000 new hires and purchase of remote-controlled weapon systems and caliber 9mm pistols.
The Senate slashed the proposed 2024 budget of the DOTr’s Office of the Secretary by ₱1.659 billion, according to the chamber’s committee report.
Poe said items with reduced funding included rail projects due to historically low disbursement rates. The amounts were moved to the PCG and other \”pressing programs\” such as driver’s licenses and motor vehicle plates.
