THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has a big role to play in securing our territorial waters and our country could use it more than the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as (the country undertakes) legal and moral maneuvers to counter China’s preposterous claims in the West Philippine Sea.
The acquisition of more modern and bigger vessels for the PCG will remove some of the pressure from the AFP, especially in dealing with marine environmental protection, sea search and rescue, and patrols. It will also save our face diplomatically as should have been the case in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in 2012, when a Philippine Navy frigate was dispatched to respond to illegal Chinese fishing activity in the area. This militarized what’s supposed to be a civilian law-enforcement activity.
Hopefully, President Aquino’s promise to modernize the PCG comes true and House Bill 5112 now in Congress will materialize and give the coast guard a holistic plan for the future.
From Presly R. Vinoya of Lanot, Roxas City, Capiz
