Coast Guard CV has new commander

CEBU, Philippines - Newly-assumed Coast Guard District Central Visayas Commander William Melad urged all members of the Philippine Coast Guard to continue their support and cooperation for a higher level of achievement as he asked them to stay committed and focused in serving the general public.

 In a Change of Command Ceremony yesterday, outgoing CGDCV commander Cecil Chen said he will surely miss the people he worked with and that despite limited resources, they were able to perform their mandated tasks and functions.

The ceremony was presided by Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Edmund Tan and witnessed by Coast Guard personnel and officials as well as various stakeholders in the shipping industry.

After the ceremony, P892,380.00 worth of confiscated firearms, blasting caps and banned firecrackers were turned over by CGDCV to the Philippine National Police and witnessed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Two high-powered firearms with accessories and magazines and 13 short firearms with magazines were confiscated last year with an estimated value of P160,500.00.

A total of 68,388 pieces of empty blasting caps were confiscated on November 19 with an estimated value of P683,880.00 while 489 reams of Piccolo firecrackers were confiscated last December 18 with an estimated market value of P48,000.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coastguard Auxiliary will have a national convention on March 28 at the Dumaguete Convention Center in Dumaguete City with more than 500 volunteers expected to attend.  (FREEMAN)