MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is putting up a K9 academy, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade led the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility at Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga on Wednesday (Aug. 25).
The canine training facility would be built in a partnership between the PCG and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).
The K9 Academy is envisioned to cater to the needs of government security forces, with a starting capacity of 100 K9 force and 100 handlers, the PCG said in a statement.
It will provide quality training phases, techniques, and best practices for the skills and aptitude enhancement of dogs, as well as the certification, evaluation, and development of research doctrines, it said.
The academy will include five organizations: Canine Development Center, Canine School, Canine Breeding Center, Canine Hospital, and Kennel Management and Biosecurity.
Tugade said the academy will be open to other government agencies, whenever the need for trained K9 dogs arises.