THE Senate has approved on final reading the proposed Revised Philippine Coast Guard law to strengthen the agency’s capabilities and organizational structure amid escalating challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Sen. Raffy Tulfo, sponsor of Senate Bill 2116, seeks to repeal Republic Act 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009 to address critical organizational gaps and allow the PCG to effectively respond to modern maritime threats and changing geopolitical demands.
Tulfo, chairperson of the Committee on Public Services, highlighted the frontline sacrifices of Coast Guard personnel who face harassment and water cannon incidents while asserting the country’s territorial integrity.
‘The Philippine Coast Guard continues to defend our sovereignty, assert our rights, and protect our territorial waters while it exercises strategic restraint to protect lives, uphold international law, and strengthen the country’s moral and legal position,’ he said.
Under the measure, a stronger organizational structure will be institutionalized through three core functional commands: maritime safety services, marine environmental protection, and maritime security law enforcement. It also mandates a sufficient minimum manpower requirement to effectively safeguard the country’s vast 36,000 kilometer coastline.