MANILA, Philippines - Aside from responding to maritime incidents, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy personnel who are licensed teachers at a school on Kalayaan Island off Palawan.
PCG Palawan district commander Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista said the deployment of personnel with a background in teaching would not only improve education on the island but would help strengthen the country’s claim in the West Philippine Sea.
Apart from the Philippines, other neighboring Asian countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims over the islands in the West Philippine Sea.
During the 46th founding anniversary of the PCG Palawan district, Evangelista promised Kalayaan Mayor Eugenio Bito-onon he would assign Coast Guard personnel to teach at the Pagasa Elementary School.
“Mayor Bito-onon informed me that they lack teachers. One teacher had to handle two or three grade levels. They really need teachers in this area,†Evangelista said.