The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is eyeing the acquisition of enormous drones to reinforce its means to patrol the nation’s maritime borders, its spokesperson stated Saturday.
In a news discussion board, Rear Admiral Armand Balilo stated if given the chance to ask Congress to supply them with extra funds, the Coast Guard would use it for the acquisition of drones.
“Nakikita naman po ng mga mambabatas natin iyong ating tungkulin na ginagampanan ay napakalaki at kailangan talaga natin na madagdagan pa ng mga gamit para nang sa ganoon, iyong maritime domain awareness natin ay ma-sustain natin,” Balilo stated.
Balilo added in addition they included of their request a remotely-operated automobile (ROV) to help in oil spill response.
“Pati ROV, nga sinasama na namin sa budget, para sa mga oil spill response. Hindi na tayo tatakbo sa mga ibang bansa para alamin lang iyong nangyayari doon sa ilalim ng dagat pagka- may oil spill,” the PCG spokesperson stated.
The drone aquisition proposal got here following the recently-concluded trilateral train with the Japanese and US Coast Guards in Mariveles, Bataan.
Balilo stated they noticed the large drones utilized by the US Coast Guard in patrolling a selected space or throughout anti-smuggling operations.
“Ang pinakabago pong technology na meron sila ay iyong mga drones. Malalaki iyong mga drones na kayang mag-patrol. Instead of the vessel and chopper na mauuna, ang pinauuna po nila ay drone pagka-nag-ooperate sila against smuggling and drugs,” he stated.
“Kasi malaking bagay ito, malaking tulong ito, imagine-in mo pag nasa isang area kayo ng operations, mas mabilis makakaikot iyong drone,” Balilo added.
Balilo stated that at the moment the PCG had drones, and personnel from the Coast Guard Aviation Force are at the moment present process coaching to function them.
“Parang project proposal lang ito at pina-o-operate na doon sa aming mga tauhan sa Coast Guard Aviation Force,” he added.
Balilo stated the PCG was trying to equip every of its districts with no less than one drone that may cowl a spread of as much as 50 nautical miles.
“Kung kami ang masusunod, lahat nung districts ng Philippine Coast Guard dapat magkaroon ng at least one drone. Kung labing-lima iyong Coast Guard district, at least may one drone sila… at their disposal na pwedeng gamitin. Fifty nautical miles, parang malayo na iyon from your base,” he stated. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
