Newly installed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Vice Admiral George Ursabia, Jr. is aiming to reach the agency’s 10,000 recruitment goal before the year ends, amid increasing demands for their service, especially now that the rainy season is fast approaching.
Philippine Coast Guard (MANILA BULLETIN)
In an interview over DZBB on Sunday, June 21, the new coast guard chief said he is still appealing to President Rodrigo Duterte to approve the remaining 8,500 slots from his target number, as 1,500 coast guard job opportunities have already been approved.
As the rainy season looms, Ursabia said the agency’s capacity must also be improved as they are also one of the leading personnel who battles with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
As of June 21, he said 49 coast guard personnel have already tested positive for COVID-19—30 have already recovered, while the remaining 19 remains under observation.
The PCG has been in charge of taking swab samples from repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be tested for COVID-19.
Aside from that, the agency continues to respond to the demands of the pandemic, including the transport of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) on top of their preparation for the wet season.
“While we are focusing our efforts in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic, hindi naman namin binitawan yung isa rin sa importante naming mandato at ito ay preparing for the typhoon season. Andyan pa rin yung mga DRGs namin o yung mga disaster response groups namin in place (we are not setting aside our important mandate and that is to prepare for the typhoon season. We have the disaster response groups in place),” he said, citing that all 76 stations of PCG and 380 substations are equipped with necessary tools in case of a weather disturbance.
But with some unprecedented events, such as the common search and rescue missions of missing fisher folks, he said capacitating the PCG by means of adding its personnel number is very important.
“Paramihan talaga ang coast guard kasi kailangan (We should add more coast guard personnel because what we need is) one coast guard for every kilometer of a coastline. Since our coastline is 37,000 kilometers in total length, more or less the coast guard should be 37,000 strong,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ursabia said he is also eyeing to acquire two more offshore patrol vessels and a RoRo-type commercial vessel for faster crisis response. This, as many LSIs have been trapped in the metropolis amid the sudden border closures. Majority of them have now resorted to sell their belongings just to aid hunger or worse, a few have died or have been critically ill while waiting to be reunited with their families in their respective provinces.
Ursabia said they are now in talks with the French government for the acquisition plans, and hoping to get in touch with the US government as well.
“Kailangan natin magtransport, hindi lang ng mga tao, pati yung mga relief goods saka yung medisina. At least meron tayong sariling barko sa gobyerno through the coast guard para magtransport nito kaagad agad ‘pag merong mga krisis (We need to transport, not only people, but also relief goods and medicines. With this, at least the government has its own vessel through the coast guard to transport all of these immediately during a crisis),” he said.
Once the whole of metropolis transitions into a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the PCG commandant also said sea operations will also resume, but on a 50 percent operational capacity. Strict health and safety protocols would also be implemented to prevent a potential COVID-19 outbreak.
As the rainy season looms, Ursabia said the agency’s capacity must also be improved as they are also one of the leading personnel who battles with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
As of June 21, he said 49 coast guard personnel have already tested positive for COVID-19—30 have already recovered, while the remaining 19 remains under observation.
The PCG has been in charge of taking swab samples from repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to be tested for COVID-19.
Aside from that, the agency continues to respond to the demands of the pandemic, including the transport of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) on top of their preparation for the wet season.
“While we are focusing our efforts in fighting this COVID-19 pandemic, hindi naman namin binitawan yung isa rin sa importante naming mandato at ito ay preparing for the typhoon season. Andyan pa rin yung mga DRGs namin o yung mga disaster response groups namin in place (we are not setting aside our important mandate and that is to prepare for the typhoon season. We have the disaster response groups in place),” he said, citing that all 76 stations of PCG and 380 substations are equipped with necessary tools in case of a weather disturbance.
But with some unprecedented events, such as the common search and rescue missions of missing fisher folks, he said capacitating the PCG by means of adding its personnel number is very important.
“Paramihan talaga ang coast guard kasi kailangan (We should add more coast guard personnel because what we need is) one coast guard for every kilometer of a coastline. Since our coastline is 37,000 kilometers in total length, more or less the coast guard should be 37,000 strong,” he added.
Meanwhile, Ursabia said he is also eyeing to acquire two more offshore patrol vessels and a RoRo-type commercial vessel for faster crisis response. This, as many LSIs have been trapped in the metropolis amid the sudden border closures. Majority of them have now resorted to sell their belongings just to aid hunger or worse, a few have died or have been critically ill while waiting to be reunited with their families in their respective provinces.
Ursabia said they are now in talks with the French government for the acquisition plans, and hoping to get in touch with the US government as well.
“Kailangan natin magtransport, hindi lang ng mga tao, pati yung mga relief goods saka yung medisina. At least meron tayong sariling barko sa gobyerno through the coast guard para magtransport nito kaagad agad ‘pag merong mga krisis (We need to transport, not only people, but also relief goods and medicines. With this, at least the government has its own vessel through the coast guard to transport all of these immediately during a crisis),” he said.
Once the whole of metropolis transitions into a modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the PCG commandant also said sea operations will also resume, but on a 50 percent operational capacity. Strict health and safety protocols would also be implemented to prevent a potential COVID-19 outbreak.
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