Japanese coast guard expertes train PCG on maritime safety

January 31, 2017

Experts from the Japan Coast Guard recently held the 11th Maritime Law Enforcement(MARLEN) Training to officers of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in an effort to support enhancing the country's maritime safety capability over its vast territorial waters as a part of the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) on-going technical cooperation project.

“Maritime safety and security is vital in sustaining the Philippines’ economic growth and investment promotions activity. We are sharing Japanese expertise in helping PCG raise its maritime transport safety based on international standards,” said JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito.

PCG recently commissioned two (BRP Tubbataha and BRP Malabrigo) of the ten multi-role response vessels to the Philippines which were procured by yen loan of Japanese official development assistance (ODA) The MARLEN training this week was conducted with the second vessel BRP Malabrigo.

Last December, the PCG has successfully deployed the rescue of 14 fishermen’s lives in Mindoro using the Tubbataha patrol vessel.

The Philippines has the fifth largest coastline (35,000 kilometers) in the world. However, maritime accidents have increased in the country over the years due to increase in passengers and freight transport, improper transport operations, and natural disasters.

“We hope that the JICA capacity building support will help the PCG maximize the use of the patrol vessels from Japan,” added Ito.

Aside from the ongoing training, JICA has already trained 150 PCG personnel under a Maritime Law Enforcement project with PCG and is expected to train 300 more by the end of 2017.

JICA has been helping the PCG since the 1980s through various Official Development Assistance. DMS