Philippine Coast Guard wishlist as of 2008:

A.) Projects for which there are still no funds:

Three(3) bigger SAR vessels or Weather High Endurance cutters(WHECs) capable of sailing through storms. The requirement for WHECs was in response to the poor performance of the 56 meter SAR vessels in high sea states. The three (3) Multi-Role Response Vessels (High Endurance Heavy Weather), one (1) each for the three (3) main island groups, to maintain effective presence within the archipelago and the exclusive economic zone even in worst sea conditions. Their inherent capability is their inter-operability with helicopters, in addition to the following features - 125 meters in length, speed of 25 to 30 knots, displacement of 3,000 to 4,000 tons, range of 4,500 to 6,000 nautical miles, patrol endurance of 1 to 2 months and operating environment of up to sea state 5

Seven (7) Multi-Purpose Maritime Helicopters to be deployed as
follows - two (2) each to cover the waters adjacent to the main islands of
Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; and one (1) for the Palawan island group.
These helicopters are primarily for search and rescue and maritime
surveillance and should have the following features - twin engines, small ship
land onltake off capability, high capacity and payload, hoist capability, autopilot
capability and multi-mission capability

Three (3) Fixed-Wing Maritime Patrol Crafts for search and rescue,
maritime surveillance, oil spill response and law enforcement. One (1) aircraft
shall be deployed to provide coverage to waters adjacent to each of the three
(3) main island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The aircrafts should
have long endurance, fast on-scene time, slow loiter speed, payload for
modern sensors and rescue equipment, high capacity payload for
passengers, short takeoff and landing capability, auto-pilot capability, and low
operating cost

B.) Projects for which funding is already available or programmed:


Mactan Buoy Base Project located in Punta Engano, Mactan, Cebu.
This project aims to promote maritime safety and to enhance maritime
security in the Visayas region, particularly in the Cebu area, which is
considered as the country’s hub of maritime activities. It will also serve as a
quick response center as it will also be the home base of PCG Search and
Rescue, and Marine Environmental Protection Units and Vessels. The
project cost is Four Hundred Ninety-eight Million Pesos (PHP 498M). It is
currently undergoing final technical evaluation by the Department of
Transportation and Communication (DOTC) prior to bidding

Search and Rescue (SAR) Base Romblon Project, to be built on a 1.5-
hectare parcel of land in Odiongan, Romblon donated by the local
government. The project is similar to the Mactan Buoy Base but smaller in
scale. The funding to support the project had been requested from the
Department of Budget and Management in the amount of Two Hundred Fifty
Million Pesos

Follow-On SAR Vessel Acquisition Project, the negotiations for which
are ongoing with Tenix Marine of Australia for the possible implementation of
"Option 2" of the contract, that is, the acquisition of ten (1O) 35-meter SAR
vessels. The DOTC will source the fund requirement of Nine Hundred Million
Pesos.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Grant Aid for two 27-
meter Patrol Vessels, the request for which had been forwarded to the
Government of Japan for the inclusion of these vessels in the Yen Package
for Calendar Year 2009

Philippine Maritime Safety, Security and Surveillance System (MS3)
Project for the installation of the General Information Center on Maritime
Safety and Security (GICOMS), a Korean system set up to enhance safety,
security and environmental protection at sea. It is a national marine crisis
management system to prevent maritime casualties and to minimize
damages that may be caused by disasters at sea. The project's purpose is to
improve maritime safety by addressing the need for an integrated maritime
monitoring and surveillance system. The grant of Three Million One Hundred
Thirty-seven Thousand United States Dollars (USD 3.137M) from Korea to
fund the initial phase of the project is pending approval

PCG Communication System Capability Enhancement on Maritime
Safety and Security Project, envisioned to enhance the current inadequacy on
the GMDSS as part of the country's compliance with the requirements of the
International Maritime Organization and to improve command and control by
PCG Headquarters over its operating units nationwide. The project is being
funded through the following scheme - from JICA, Three Hundred Fifty Million
Pesos (PHP 350M), from the PCG, Twenty-seven Million Pesos (PHP 27M),
and from the DOTC, Thirty-five Million Pesos (PHP 35M). The project is
scheduled to be completed by February 2009

source: Philippine Senate website, Resolution # 538 of Senator Gordon, July 30,2008

USS Brunswick (ATS-3) was an Edenton-class salvage and rescue ship in the service of the United States Navy from 1972 through her decommissioning in 1996.

SAR
:banana: