10 October 2008 Balita
Writer: Rowena Bundang, MAS-PRID
The House committees on Transportation and Appropriations have jointly endorsed for plenary approval a proposal to transfer the Philippine Coast Guard to the Department of Transportation and Communications as a distinct, armed and uniformed agency.
House Bill 5151 or the proposed "Philippines Coast Guard Act of 2008," which is in substitution of House Bills 20, 70, 461, 517, 640, 1112 and 2932, also mandates that in times of war, as declared by Congress, the Coast Guard shall be attached to the Department of National Defense.
In filing the bills, the proponents said Republic Act 5173 created the PCG in 1963 as a major subordinate unit of the Philippine Navy of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to promote the safety of life and property at sea, protect the environment and enforce all laws of high seas and waters within the country's jurisdiction.
The PCG was transferred to the DOTC In 1998 by virtue of Executive Order 477, paving the way for its transformation into a non-military organization.
The proposed Philippines Coast Guard Act of 2008 seeks to expand the powers and functions of the PCG and define its organizational structure and personnel administration.
Among the proposed functions of the PCG are to assist in the enforcement of maritime rules and regulations for the promotion of safety of life and property within the maritime jurisdiction of the country.
It shall also enforce laws and assist in the promulgation and administration of the rules and regulations for the promotion of marine environment within the maritime jurisdiction of the country.
The PCG shall likewise render aid to persons, vessels in distress and conduct search and rescue operations in case of marine accidents or casualties within the maritime jurisdiction of the Philippines including the high seas, in accordance with international conventions.
Moreover, the PCG shall also enforce or assist in the maintenance of maritime security, prevent or suppress terrorism at sea and perform law enforcement functions within the maritime jurisdiction of the country.
Furthermore, it shall assist in the enforcement of fisheries law, immigration law, tariff and customs law, forestry law, firearms and explosives law, law on trafficking of women and children and other applicable laws within the country's territorial waters.
The PCG shall also develop, maintain, operate and coordinate with concerned agencies with due regard to the requirements of national defense, aids to navigation and rescue facilities over the high seas and waters, subject to the jurisdiction of the country according to the proposal.
Proponents of the bills are Reps. Roilo Golez (2nd District, Paranaque City), Rozanno Biazon (Lone District, Muntinlupa City), Nur Jaafar (Lone District, Tawi-Tawi), Abraham Kahlil Mitra (2nd District, Palawan), Mark Llandro Mendoza (4th District, Batangas), Eleandro Jesus Madrona Lone District, Romblon), Salvador Escudero III (1st District, Sorsogon), Monico Puentevella (Lone District, Bacolod City) and Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay).
from military to civilian then back to military, the coasties must be in a tizzy, hehehe there ought to be a plebiscite.
what next, the PNP? :rifle:
more services to share the AFP budget pie, aint this a disadvasntage?
That's the normal practice in times of war. Since the PCG have patrol vessels they are attached to the PN. Same with the PNP, performing guard and security duties.
This is in actuality, a very most advantageous set up. This will free the PN from being the foremost coast watcher of the archipelago, but limited only to defense and miltary operations. That means, the pN is gonna foregoing having the "Patrol force"into a more spohisticated role of a "Defense-Offense" specially on the outskirts. Dapat naman talaga we should halt too much maintenance on the numerous PT's we have, and realign future procurements towards bigger boats such as OPV'd, corvettes and fRigates that have longer range and are missile capable. Look at our fleet right now, all floating tugboats with guns, just good for patrol and nothing more, no modern radar, no modern firing systems, excpet for the Jacintos and the Alvarez
The PCG is better-off as a civilian unit, they are more capable of receiving more funding being a civilian entity, Japan, Australia and the US are more openly giving out assistance to vessel procurement and more aid than in the militray. PCG even has more modern assets than the pN right now, and are evn more aggressive in having a more modern fleet with 19 more SAR and 5 more SAR helis to be procured. Mas kawawa nga PN kasi Horizon 3 pa sila makakita mg Corvette or OPV which is the earliset, 10 years from now :fire: