Coast Guard to distribute vessels to disaster-prone areas

Manila, Philippines -  Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) districts that are prone to maritime incidents and have vibrant tourism activities would be given priority in the distribution of new vessels that the maritime agency would be acquiring before the end of the year.

The PCG would decide where the new vessels would be distributed, taking into account the frequency of maritime incidents and areas with tourist attractions, Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Armand Balilo said yesterday.

Balilo stressed the bigger consideration would be disaster response.

He explained that with erratic weather patterns and increased incidents of flooding, the Coast Guard has been often called to perform search and rescue missions not only at sea, but also on land.

Balilo said the new disaster response equipment would be useful to the agency due to an increase of maritime disasters brought about by climate change.

Provinces in the southern part of the country that were hardly affected by typhoons before are now being hit by heavy flooding.

The equipment would also be helpful to the Coast Guard in the performance of its functions such as maritime environment protection.

These could be utilized in intensifying patrol around the archipelago, Balilo said.

The Coast Guard is hoping that the vessels and equipment would be purchased and turned over to them before the end of the year.

“The government is putting premium on a law enforcement agency such as the PCG, realizing the archipelagic configuration of the country,” Balilo said.

In the proposed distribution of the 300 Aluminum V-shaped hull boats, 47 units would go to Southern Tagalog; 40 units in the Bicol region; 28 units each for National Capital Region-Central Luzon and Palawan; 25 units for Western Visayas; 21 for Southeastern Mindanao; 20 units each for Northern Mindanao and Southwestern Mindanao; 19 for Central Visayas; 18 units each for Northerneastern Luzon and Western Luzon; and 16 units in Eastern Visayas.

The PCG districts that would receive the most number of rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIB) are Palawan and Southern Luzon, wherein each office would receive 10 units; eight units for Northeastern Luzon and Southwestern Mindanao; seven units for each of NCR-Central Luzon and Bicol; six units for each of Western Visayas and Northern Mindanao; five units each for Central Visayas, Southeastern Mindanao and Eastern Visayas; and four units for Western Luzon. The PCG would be securing 81 units of RHIB.

They have allocated funds for 50 rubber boats of which seven units would be given to NCR-Central Luzon; six units each for Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Southeastern Mindanao and Southwestern Mindanao; five units each for Palawan and Western Visayas; three units each for Western Luzon, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.

The agency would also have six jet skis of which two units would be assigned to NCR-Central Luzon, and one each for Southern Tagalog, Palawan, Western Visayas and Central Visayas.

The government, through the Department of Transportation and Communication, has allocated P521 million to purchase these vessels and rescue equipment. They have already begun issuing bid documents.

Other disaster response equipment that would be bought are 862 units VHF handheld Marine type radios; 862 units of operator’s life vests with survival kits; 2,586 units of common life vests; 431 units of megaphones and 1,724 units of flares.