The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) plans to amass 5 extra 97-meter offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) from Japan because it seeks to beef up its presence within the West Philippine Sea (the South China Sea). The plan has been submitted to the Division of Transportation, which might be forwarded to the Nationwide Financial and Growth Authority for processing. Inquirer reported that PCG commandant Adm. Artemio Abu met with Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA) president Dr. Tanaka Akihiko and Japanese Embassy officers on the PCG headquarters on Friday, the place they mentioned future collaborations, together with the acquisition of extra patrol ships. Jica earlier funded the PCG’s first two 97-meter vessels by an official growth help mortgage of P6.4 billion.
In 2022, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has formally commissioned its latest and largest vessel “BRP Teresa Magbanua”, a 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) made by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan. It was modeled after the Japan Coast Guard Kunigami-class vessels. The Japanese authorities for supporting the modernization efforts of the PCG and different tasks of the Duterte administration. The second 97-meter MRRV reached the Philippines in June, to be dubbed the “BRP Melchora Aquino”. The 2 vessels had been procured below the Maritime Security Functionality Enchancment Venture Section 2 of the Division of Transportation. It’s seen to spice up the PCG’s functionality in patrolling the nation’s maritime territory and offering a swift response to offshore and coastal incidents.
Commercial
The brand new multi-role response vessel (MRRV) has a most velocity of 24 knots and an endurance of 4,000 nautical miles. The acquisition of recent vessels is a breakthrough in direction of the federal government’s thrust of modernizing and upgrading the nation’s maritime security and border safety. The Maritime Security Functionality Enchancment Venture Section II (MSCIP Section 2) is a Japanese-assisted challenge funded by an Official Growth Help (ODA) Mortgage from the Japan Worldwide Cooperation Company (JICA) amounting to roughly JPY 16,455,000,000 (JPY 16.5 billion). The contract between the DOTr and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. for the design, development, and supply of the 2 97-meter MRRVs amounting to JPY 14,550,000,000 (JPY 14.6 billion) was signed on 27 December 2019 and have become efficient on 08 Could 2020.
The Philippine transportation secretary Jaime J. Bautista vowed on January 12, 2023, the continued complete modernization of the property and manpower of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Secretary Bautista mentioned the Division of Transportation (DOTr) will push for the PCG’s acquisition of property and tools in addition to the inclusion of its officers in world-class academic applications. The transport chief added he envisions a world-class PCG women and men that may carry out just like the Coast Guards of different developed international locations. The personnel complement of the Coast Guard has grown exponentially – from solely round 7,000 a number of years in the past to over 26,000 in the present day.
