PCG gets P1.6 billion to buy 2 helicopters

MANILA, Philippines – The poorly equipped Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is finally getting a much-needed shot in the arm, with an extra P1.6 billion to jumpstart its Maritime Disaster Response Helicopter Acquisition Project, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas said yesterday.

Gullas said the amount would enable the PCG to acquire a couple of all-weather, twin-engine, multi-purpose utility helicopters capable of performing search and rescue operations and other vital functions.

President Aquino has decided to include P1.6 billion in the proposed P1.64 trillion national budget for 2011, he said.

“This is long overdue, and we give credit to the President for finally deciding to support the project, at least initially,” Gullas said in a statement.

The entire Maritime Disaster Response Helicopter Acquisition Project calls for the procurement of up to seven helicopters, he said, adding the initial P1.6 billion would be enough for the first two.

“We should not wait for another disaster similar to the Luneta hostage-taking fiasco — where we saw how our ill-equipped police SWAT teams fumbled the rescue operation — before we act to build up the PCG’s capability to save lives at sea,” Gullas said.

More than 700 passengers died in June 2008 when Cebu City-based Sulpicio Lines Inc.’s MV Princess of the Stars capsized off the coast of San Fernando, Romblon.

The high death toll in the tragedy was blamed in part on the lack of search and rescue crafts that could withstand turbulent weather.

According to the PCG, the two helicopters to be acquired would have “interoperability” with existing boats. This would enable the choppers to quickly hoist more people to safety during rescue operations in the high seas.

Even during stormy weather, the PCG said the helicopters would also be able to conduct rescue operations when there is flooding in Metro Manila or elsewhere.

Gullas described as “pathetic” the condition of the PCG’s two leftover, twin-engine B- 105 Bolkow helicopters assembled in 1976.

“We were told the 34-year-old choppers have to fly in tandem all the time, just in case one of the pair suddenly conks out in mid-air,” he said.

A twin-engine helicopter can still fly to the nearest air station even if one engine fails. However, the PCG said its Bolkow choppers are too old, a single engine might not have enough power to take the rotorcraft to nearest heliport.

Gullas stressed the need for a stronger PCG to cope with the rapidly growing demands of maritime operations, maritime law enforcement and safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection.

“We are one of the five biggest archipelagos in the world, along with Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Yet, we also have one of the smallest and most poorly equipped Coast Guards,” he said.

“We rely mainly on inter-island sea travel to move people and commodities. We are also the world’s eight-largest producer of fisheries. Yet, we cannot rapidly secure our ship passengers and fisherfolk when they are in the high seas,” Gullas said.