Philippine Coast Guard
The Philippine Coast Guard is the third armed uniformed service of the country attached to the Philippines' Department of Transportation, tasked primarily with enforcing laws within Philippine waters, conducting maritime security operations, safeguarding life and property at sea, and protecting marine environment and resources; similar to coast guard units around the world. In case of a declaration of war, the Coast Guard shall also serve as an attached service of the Department of National Defense.
It currently maintains a presence throughout the archipelago, with sixteen Coast Guard Districts, fifty-four CG Stations and over one hundred ninety Coast Guard Sub-Stations, from Basco, Batanes to Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
History
Colonial era history
The Philippine Coast Guard is the oldest and only humanitarian armed service in the Philippines. Its beginnings could be traced back to the early 20th century when coast guarding was related to the protection of the customs services of the country and in patrolling the coastlines and harbors.When the Americans came in 1898, one of the first steps that the military government undertook was the reopening of the port and customs facilities of Manila. Soon after, the civilian Insular Government, through the Philippine Commission, enacted a law on October 17, 1901, that created the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation, which was placed under the Department of Commerce and Police. The Captain of the Port was designated as Bureau Director.
Recognition of the difficulty of administering such a vast island area without reliable government transportation resulted in the requirements to establish a transportation system for government services. The resulting report recommended purchase of 21 small steamers to establish 21 circuits supporting communication between provincial capitals and coastal towns as well as prevent smuggling and landing contraband. The average circuit would be.. The vessels required should be all weather of about in length capable of with light armament. Two small stern paddle steamers were recommended for river use on the Cayagen River and the Rio Grande de Mindanao and connected lakes. The bureau concentrated its early days on the contracts for the fifteen vessels with the result ten were to be built by Farnham, Boyd & Company in Shanghai, China and five by Uraga Dock Company in Uraga, Japan.
The ten Chinese contracted cutters were Balabac, Basilan, Busuanga, Corregidor, Luzon, Masbate, Negros, Palawan, Polillo, and Tablas. The five Uraga cutters were to be Marinduque and Romblon, which were delivered, and Bohol, Cebu, and Jolo which were cancelled after serious deficiencies were found on delivery of Marinduque and Romblon. The China built cutters began arriving in Manila by mid 1902 and were found to generally meet requirements. The Uraga built cutters, arriving in January and April 1903, had serious defects, to the extent the inspector in Japan was dismissed for negligence, and costly negotiations led to cancellation of the three others that were in process of completion. Five additional cutters were ordered from China, those being Leyte, Mindanao, Mindoro, Panay, and Samar.
The lighthouse service was placed under the Bureau. In 1902, the Coast Guard fleet of 15 steamers from China and Japan was established and were assigned for the lighthouse service inspection trips of top government officials, for transport to Culion Island, for patrolling against illegal entry of aliens, and for troop movement of the Philippine Constabulary.
The Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation was abolished on October 26, 1905, and the Bureau of Navigation took over its functions. The Bureau of Navigation was authorized to create a commissioned and enlisted service, and to adopt its own manual of court martial patterned after the US Navy.
Subsequently, however, the Bureau was also abolished on December 19, 1913, and the organization and its functions were transferred to the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Public Works until the establishment of the Commonwealth Government.
Postwar era history
After gaining independence from the United States shortly after the end of World War II, the Philippine government transferred some of the coast guard functions, such as the revenue cutter and lighthouse services, to the Philippine Naval Patrol, which eventually became the Philippine Navy. A Coast Guard unit was activated within the Philippine Navy to implement these functions.On August 6, 1967, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act 5173 of the Philippine Coast Guard Law, which made the PCG a major unit of the Philippine Navy under a flag officer. The PCG was activated on October 10, 1967, and its coast guard functions were transferred from the navy proper.
Contemporary history
The civilian nature of the PCG functions led to the separation of the Coast Guard from the Philippine Navy on March 30, 1998, by virtue of Executive Order 475 signed by President Fidel Ramos. The Order effectively transferred the PCG from the Department of National Defense to the Office of the President, and eventually to the Department of Transportation and Communications on April 15, 1998, by virtue of Executive Order 477.These executive orders provided inter alia that the PCG shall continue to be the agency primarily responsible for the promotion of safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the maritime environment as mandated under the Philippine Coast Guard Law and Presidential Decrees 600, 601, 602, and 979, as a mended.
The transformation of the PCG into a non-military organization has a tremendous impact and significance. Its civilian character has allowed it to receive offers of vessels, equipment, technology, services, cooperation and other needed assistance from other countries, something which would not be readily offered to a military agency.
With enactment of Republic Act 9993, also known as the Coast Guard Law of 2009, as well as its implementing rules and regulations, the PCG has been vested with the necessary authority and responsibility to perform preventive measures in ensuring the safety of merchant vessels. The new law also strengthened PCG's authority to meet new challenges and increasing demands for marine resources, technological advancement and climate change. Further, the law has defined the PCG's rightful niche in the bureaucracy as the premier maritime agency and its vital role in nation building.
Religion
The Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage is officially the patron of the PCG. Its head chaplain Fr. Lowie Palines received from Antipolo Cathedral Parish Priest-Rector Fr. Reynante "Nante" Unidad Tolentino, ACSP President, his requested 2 replicas of the Marian image. The PCG will hold processions thereof in all its headquarters. The second image will also be permanently installed by Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio of the Military Ordinariate of the Philippines at Pag-asa Island's Catholic chapel.Organization
The Philippine Coast Guard is led by the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard, and directly reports to the Secretary of Transportation in maritime law enforcement, and also reports to the Secretary of National Defense in wartime. The Commandant is assisted by the Deputy Commandant for Administration and the Deputy Commandant for Operations, both holders of the rank of Vice Admiral, and the Chief of Coast Guard Staff, who holds the rank of Rear Admiral.Leadership
- Commander-in-Chief: Pres. Bongbong Marcos
- Secretary of Transportation : Giovanni Z. Lopez
- *Undersecretary for Maritime, DOTr: Elmer Francisco U. Sarmiento
- Presidential Adviser on the West Philippine Sea: Sec. Andres C. Centino
- Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard : CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan
- Deputy Commandant for Administration: CG VADM Rolando Lizor N. Punzalan
- Deputy Commandant for Operations: CG VADM Victor T. Dela Vega
- Chief of Coast Guard Staff: CG RADM Hostillo Arturo Cornelio
- Spokesperson, Philippine Coast Guard: Captain Noemie Guirao-Cayabyab PCG
Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard
The commandant also reports directly to the Secretary of Transportation for transportation-related and peacetime matters, and only reports to the Secretary of National Defense for maritime security-related matters and wartime matters, and works in collaboration with the National Security Council. Upon the signing of the Republic Act No. 12122 on February 18, 2025, the commandant will serve their tenure on their post under a fixed 3-year term and will only be terminated if the commandant's term expires or under the President's pleasure, and allows the commandant to maintain stability and efficiency in their post. The new law also exempts the commandant on the service's retirement age of 56 or within 30 years of service, whichever comes earlier, and shall not exceed the age of 60. Additional requirements for the appointment of the position of commandant is still retained, which consists of being awarded the Command-at-Sea Badge and for serving as a commander of a Coast Guard District.
The commandant is assisted by three deputies in their post; namely the Deputy Commandant for Operations, who supervises all Coast Guard operations and functions; the Deputy Commandant for Administration, who is in charge of managing administrative functions and even assists in human resource management, personnel management and resource maangement; and the Chief of Coast Guard Staff, who assists the commandant in overseeing the coast guard's staff functions and commands. The Deputy Commandants for both Operations and Administration holds the three-star rank of Vice Admiral, while the Chief of Coast Guard Staff holds the two-star rank of Rear Admiral.