Duterte promotes Coast Guard head Ursabia to admiral

July 31, 2020

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the promotion of PCG Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia Jr. to admiral, the highest rank of a Coast Guard  commissioned officer.

"Upon recommendation of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, President Duterte has approved the promotion of Admiral George Villareal Ursabia Jr effective 06 July 2020. His formal oath-taking at the Malacañang Palace is pending for schedule," the PCG said on Friday.

"Admiral Ursabia expresses his sincerest gratitude to President Duterte and Secretary Tugade for according said promotion on top of their trust and confidence on his leadership and wisdom to oversee the PCG in such a time of a pandemic," it added.

In his statement, Ursabia said: "I owe this promotion to God, to the nation, to people, to my family, and to my colleagues. Thus, I will serve with utmost pride that I do not carry alone the weight of the rank on my shoulders. Our battles are God's and so, we must unite to finish strong."

Prior his designation as PCG commandant, Ursabia who graduated Philippine Military Academy (PMA) as a member of “Hinirang” Class of 1987, became the commander of the PCG - Marine Environmental Protection Command; commander of Coast Guard districts in Central Visayas, Palawan, Southeastern Mindanao, and Northern Luzon; as well as the commander of the Coast Guard Ready Force and Staff for Maritime Safety Affairs.

"Admiral Ursabia earned the most coveted Command-at-Sea Badge as he commanded three PCG search and rescue vessels (SARV) — BRP Romblon (SARV-3503), BRP Davao Del Norte (SARV-3504), and BRP Pampanga (SARV-003), as well as three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 30-meter patrol boats," said PCG.

"Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Admiral Ursabia activated the PCG Task Force Oplan Bayanihan to intensify efforts to serve returning overseas Filipinos, repatriated Filipino seafarers, locally stranded individuals, government agencies, local government units, and maritime stakeholders," it stated.

As more PCG frontliners were getting infected by COVID-19, Ursabia begun  bimonthly swab tests and strategic deployment schedule. He ensured sufficient supply of vitamins, medical supplies, personal protective equipment sets, and other necessary resources, PCG said.

Ursaba said he recruited more health workers to expand PCG’s capacity. Robina Asido/DMS