The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) wants extra maritime vessels to proceed patrolling its 15 districts across the nation, an official mentioned Thursday.
In Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras”, PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo mentioned the coast guard solely has three offshore patrol vessels.
“Mayroon tayong 15 districts station-wide at ang unang kailangan dyan ay ‘yung offshore patrol vessels. Mayroon tayong station na kailangan gawing quick response vessels immediately that can be deployed and can respond to any emergencies and joint enforcement operations in the area,” he mentioned.
(We have 15 station-wide and what we’d like for them are offshore patrol vessels. We even have stations that want fast response vessels instantly that may be deployed and may reply to any emergencies and joint enforcement operations within the space.)
Meanwhile, native shipbuilding corporations, together with Propmech, believes authorities will have the ability to strengthen its monitoring of the nation’s territory if the patrol vessels and small quick crafts the federal government will procure are Filipino-made.
“It’s sad that a lot of our products still has to come from abroad. And, you never know what will happen in the future, whether supplies are difficult to get, whether is it hard to travel again, whether should there be conflict,” mentioned Propmech Director Glenn Tong.
Balilo mentioned the PCG is open to buying regionally made vessels however most of their ships had been procured by means of overseas tender loans the place the suppliers are additionally from the nation that present the funds. — Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
