THE Senate yesterday unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill which sets a three-year fixed term for the Philippine Coast Guard commander.
House Bill No. 10842 under Committee Report No. 432, got 21 affirmative votes, no negative votes, and no abstentions.
Under the measure, the PCG commander will have a maximum fixed term of three years which shall “commence on the date the appointment is signed, unless sooner terminated by the President.”
“The PCG commander shall be compulsory retired upon completion of the maximum term or upon relief by the President,” it said.
Senate President Francis Escudero, who sponsored the Committee Report on HB No. 10842, said the measure is aligned with the security interest of the country since it assures continuity in the position and leadership of the PCG commander.
He said setting a fixed term of three years for the PCG commander will provide stability to the service amid the challenges the country is facing in the West Philippine Sea.
“Given the situation we are facing in the West Philippine Sea, it is in our best interest to ensure that we have some level of continuity in the leadership of the PCG, the agency tasked to patrol our territorial waters and secure our shores,” Escudero said after passage of the bill on third reading.
He said this also aligns with the term of the Armed Forces chief of staff and “is part of efforts to reform the PCG.”
Escudero said the passage of the measure will allow Admiral Ronnie Galvan “to continue leading the valiant men and women of the PCG” since the latter was only appointed to the post on October 2023 and was set to retire on February 21 or 16, less than 16 months from his appointment.
He said reforms in the PCG will continue to be taken up given the complexities involved in modernization measures, including the proposed reform of increasing by one year in the retirement age of the PCG commander from 56 to 57.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada asked to be made co-author and co-sponsor of the bill, saying “it is an important step forward in strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard.”
“One of the key reasons I support this bill is because it will ensure that the leadership of the Philippine Coast Guard remains stable and focused on long-term goals rather than being subjected to frequent political shifts,” he added.
Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said the passage of the bill is timely and provides a “forward-looking framework on how our maritime forces should operate” amid the geopolitical tensions in the WPS.