One of the 10 patrol vessels of Philippine Coast Guard arrived
The Philippine Coast Guard received additional assets in an effort to upgrade the forces amid the tension on the disputed waters of South China Sea (West Philippine Sea).
On Thursday, Coast Guard received its first multi-role response vessel from Japan.
This is one of 10 patrol vessels provided by Japan through an official development assistance loan to help boost Manila’s maritime capability.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, representatives of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Japanese diplomats graced the turnover ceremony in South Harbor.
The 44-meter multi-role response vessel, which will be named BRP Tubbataha and assigned to the Philippine Coast Guard, was built by Japan Marine United Corp. in Yokohama.
This is funded by a loan of 7.3 billion peso ($158 million) from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The Philippine government is providing an additional 1.4 billion pesos for the 10-vessel project, which is expected to be completed in 2018.
“In the past few years, we have all been witness to the growing and evolving challenges that the Philippine Coast Guard is facing, and the maritime community and the sea-traveling public also had to face. Who could forget the devastation and horror brought about by supertyphoon Yolanda (Typhoon Haiyan, in 2013)? Who would not be angered by violations committed against our maritime laws that sometimes resulted in maritime accidents or even casualties? And who could afford to take the bullying of our fishermen within our maritime jurisdiction?,” Philippine Coast Guard chief, Rear Adm. William Melad, said at the welcome ceremony for BRP Tubbataha.
“These instances have reverberated the call for a modern and equipped Philippine Coast Guard that can speedily respond to cries for help and engage in rescue and rehabilitation efforts, one that has technical capability to match…against poachers, smugglers, human and drug traffickers, and one that can stand up for the country’s citizens against maritime bullies,” he added.
There will be nine other new vessels from Japan that would be delivered to the PCG until 2018. All the patrol boats acquired through the Maritime Safety Capability Improvement Project are worth P8.8 billion.
The rest of the ships will be named after lighthouses by the PCG. They will be deployed in various areas, including Manila, La Union and Puerto Princesa.