PH coast guard patrol ship ready for deployment to Scarborough Shoal

From the Philippine Daily Inquirer (Nov 25): PH coast guard patrol ship ready for deployment to Scarborough Shoal

The BRP Pampanga, a Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship, is “on standby” and “ready for deployment” to the Scarborough, or Panatag shoal in the West Philippine Sea, known to the rest of the world as the South China Sea, the PCG spokesperson said. Lt. Commander Armand Balilo, the PCG spokesman, however, said Sunday they were still waiting for the go-ahead from both the Department of National Defense and Department of Foreign Affairs. The BRP Pampanga was one of several Philippine vessels that earlier faced off with Chinese ships at the disputed rock formation, which the Philippines also calls Bajo de Masinloc. On the other hand, China refers to the cluster of reefs and islands as Huangyan Island. If and when directed by the authorities, the PCG search-and-rescue vessel could hook up with a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship and keep watch at the three Chinese vessels reportedly posted in that pocket of the West Philippine Sea, months after a standoff with the Philippines. Sometime in early August, Balilo said they were “on call from higher-ups to respond to maritime incidents,” including those in the West Philippine Sea. He noted that “maritime security, as well as meeting challenges posed by illegal fishing and marine degradation, is among our main thrusts.” “But we’re guided by the DND and the DFA in handling incidents related to the Scarborough Shoal dispute between the Philippines and China, which we all know is a sensitive issue,” he added.

When interviewed, Balilo said only six of their nine patrol ships were operational. But he expressed confidence the command would be “in a better position to do its search-and-rescue and other functions with the PCG acquisition in six months to one year of brand-new vessels and equipment.”  The Department of Transportation and Communications has set aside over P521.6 million for the procurement of at least 431 units of aluminum V-shaped hull, rigid hull and rubber boats, as well as jet skis, radio equipment and more than 3,440 life vests and 1,724 flares. In 2014, the PCG will most likely get 12 brand-new patrol boats from Japan, according to the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City. Tokyo has been helping the Philippine government modernize the PCG since 1990.....

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/57841/ph-coast-guard-patrol-ship-ready-for-deployment-to-scarborough-shoal