THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday welcomed the decision of the Senate to increase by P1.3 billion the PCG’s budget for next year, saying this will bolster its operations in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
“We thank the Senate for supporting the PCG in performing our mandates and pursuing our modernization projects,” PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced the increase in the PCG budget on Monday during the Senate plenary deliberations on the proposed PCG budget for next year.
Zubiri did not give figures but senators, earlier on Monday said, the amount was P1.3 billion. Senators were in favor of increasing the PCG budget, noting the various missions it is performing, including in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG vessels have been conducting patrols in the West Philippine Sea and escorting military resupply missions at the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal.
Several PCG vessels were harassed by Chinese vessels while escorting the resupply missions in the past months.
“This budget increase will significantly augment our operations not only in the West Philippine Sea but also in our fight to combat illegal activities and enforce maritime laws in our borders in the southern Philippines and Benham Rise in the eastern seaboard,” said Balilo.
Balilo said the PCG has a “myriad of challenges that we need to address,” adding the budget increase “will definitely boost our capability development and daily operations.”
Balilo also thanked the Filipino people “for their trust and confidence in the organization.”
“Rest assured that we will manage every single centavo entrusted to us in accordance with existing auditing rules and regulations,” Balilo said.
