Philippine Coast Guard beefs up force with 4,220 new recruits

BOOT CAMP New recruits undergo training on Thursday at the PCG Regional Training Center in Zamboanga. —PHOTO FROM PCG

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has beefed up its workforce amid its key role in safeguarding its territorial waters, especially in the tension-filled waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

A total of 4,220 new recruits have started training at various regional training centers of the PCG nationwide, bringing the PCG’s current workforce to more than 30,000.

In a statement on Friday, the PCG said the newly recruited composed of 400 Coast Guard Officer’s Course trainees under Class 30, and 3,820 Coast Guard Non-Officer’s Course trainees under Classes 100 to 107.

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They simultaneously took their oath at the PCG regional training centers in Bataan, Taguig, Misamis Oriental, Aurora, Capiz, La Union, Masbate, and Zamboanga.

Another 300 trainees would convene at the PCG Regional Training Center Dolores in Eastern Visayas in the third week of October.

The six-month-long PCG training focuses on drills, basic soldiery, and Coast Guard customs and traditions.

There will also be a series of training on maritime security, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection.

The recruits passed a comprehensive medical evaluation and health assessment to ensure they were “physically fit” to join the PCG training.

The PCG plans to recruit 4,000 additional personnel next year and 3,000 more by 2025, which will bring its total workforce to more than 37,000 — a 185-percent increase in its manpower in just a span of six years. In 2019, the PCG only had about 13,000 personnel.