THE commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) proudly proclaimed that unity and harmony are among the catalysts to the PCG’s growth as a humanitarian armed services organization for the past 122 years.
“We owe our growth to the hardworking men and women of the PCG, the PCG Auxiliary, to our partners in the national and local governments, private sector, as well as civil society organizations, that incessantly provided support to the organization through the years. Among them, the Office of the President,” says PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio Abu, during the PCG 122nd founding anniversary rites held at the Port Area in Manila today, and attended by no less than President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
CG Abu said that the Chief Executive’s leadership inspired over 30,000 Coast Guardians to serve the country with utmost dedication.
“We have stood our ground in the face of adversity in the West Philippine Sea. We handled positively the provocations, bullying, and harassments of vessels on every re-supply mission to the Philippine Navy’s BRP Sierra Madre anchored at Ayungin Shoal,” CG Admiral Abu expressed.
“Our personnel have courageously dismantled the foreign floating barriers, which were illegally installed in the West Philippine Sea. We installed additional navigational buoys, which also serve as markers of Philippine territory,” he added.
Moreover, CG Admiral Abu reported to President Marcos that the PCG successfully responded to over 500 maritime incidents from January to September 2023.
He also recognized the sacrifices of four PCG rescuers who went missing in the Cagayan River while they were underway to conduct search and rescue operations amid Super Typhoon Egay.
Aside from that, CG Admiral Abu also acknowledged the selfless efforts of another PCG diver who lost his life while responding to a drowning incident in Lubao, La Union.
“We will forever honor the memories of CG Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) Ponciano Nesperos, while we continue to hope as we search for Seaman First Class (SN1) Jaeben Jan Domingo, CG Apprentice Seaman (ASN) Lesther Renz Campo, CG ASN Rodel Garado, and CG ASN John Lloyd Rebamontan,” the Coast Guard Commandant added.
Meanwhile, he thanked the devoted men and women of the Coast Guard, as well as its partner countries, which extended assistance in addressing the Oriental Mindoro oil spill.
“All these were accomplished through our continuous efforts to improve our ranks. As our numbers improve, so does our competency through the conduct of continuous training, education, and capacity-building assistance from our foreign allies and friends,” CG Admiral Abu noted.
He likewise expressed his commitment to keep the PCG a symbol of hope and a source of national pride for Filipinos.
“Together, we can achieve great things. Let us all sail together as one. In unity, we create harmony, and in harmony, we deliver excellent, compassionate, and dedicated public service for our fellow Filipinos,” he ended.