MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said that 2023 has been a “challenge” for its personnel, especially when managing people’s expectations in handling the harassment and aggression of China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Despite the threats, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said they remained “undeterred in protecting Filipino fishermen and safeguarding the country’s sovereign rights over its exclusive economic zones (EEZ).”
“This year, we have proven that we are professionals, that we would be more patient but very resolute in the way we manage the security requirements in the WPS,” Gavan said in a statement.
He added that PCG has been more assertive in addressing the attacks by increasing their presence in the WPS, removing the foreign floating barriers allegedly installed by China, placing additional buoys within the area, assisting in the resupply missions of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and used “diplomatic and peaceful” approaches on dealing with the threats.
“We will continue to aspire for a more peaceful, more rules-based maritime environment. We would continue to forge partnerships with as many as we can,” Gavan said pertaining to the incoming year.
“The management of the expectation of the public and the actions that we must make for the grander interest. The public wants us to be aggressive, but at the same time, our grander interest would require us to be more mature and professional,” he added.
Aside from the attacks in WPS, PCG also looked back on how they handled previous maritime incidents that disrupted the lives of Filipino fisherfolk this year, such as the February 28 oil spill off eastern Oriental Mindoro, which caused nearly P1 billion worth of damage.
“With the assistance of government agencies, residents, concerned organizations, international partners, and foreign counterparts, the PCG completed the operations in just four months, prompting the lifting of the fishing ban on affected waters,” PCG said.
The PCG added that its Marine Environmental and Protection Command “inspected and monitored tens of thousands of vessels, cargo oil transfer, dumping and tank cleaning, deck washing, and bunkering operations,” as well as conducted “coastal clean-ups and mangrove planting initiatives.”
It also responded to about 1,200 maritime incident reports this year and rescued approximately 5,500 individuals nationwide.