Category Archives: Philippine Coast Guard

Japan to help PH Coast Guard patrol territory

Aquino, Japan FM Kishida discuss China, West PH Sea MANILA (UPDATE)  – President Aquino met on Thursday with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida who is visiting the Philippines, his first overseas trip since his appointment. Issues on the West Philippine Sea and maritime security were among the topics discussed in the meeting that also touched on economic cooperation. Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said Japan committed to assist the Philippine Coast Guard in its role in Read more [...]

As it discusses China with Japan, Philippines wants to rearm battleships with missiles

MANILA, Philippines – Amid Philippine concerns over “aggressive” Chinese claims over parts of the contested West Philippine Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday announced that the country would discuss the matter with Japan, which has its own territorial disputes with China. Aside from talking with Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida about the sea row with China, Philippine leaders will also discuss with the Japanese official the 10 coastal boats that will be donated by Japan Read more [...]

Japan, Philippines to discuss Coast Guard ships

MANILA, Philippines – Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss Manila’s request for 10 Coast Guard ships from Tokyo. The 2 officials are scheduled to meet Wednesday. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) officially made the request for the multi-role response vessels (RRV) from Japan through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). “That will be a matter of discussion between the Foreign Minister and myself Read more [...]

Philippines to get 5 French patrol boats

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines will buy five patrol boats from France for about 90 million euros ($116 million), partly to guard disputed areas in the South China Sea, the coastguard said Tuesday. Rear Admiral Luis Tuason, the chief of the poorly equipped coastguard, said one 82-meter (271-foot) ship and four 24-meter (79-foot) patrol craft would be delivered by 2014. Tuason cited the need for such ships to patrol the rough waters of the South China Sea, which Manila calls the West Philippine Read more [...]

Coast Guard needs 30 more ships for patrols

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard needs 30 more ships and patrol craft to help secure the country’s maritime boundaries, a PCG official said on Saturday. Rear Adm. Rodolfo Isorena, fleet commander, said the Coast Guard needed more vessels since its 15 boats were not enough to patrol the seas covered by the 54 PCG stations across the country. “We really need more ships and patrol craft. That’s our number one priority,” Isonera said in an interview. “Each station should Read more [...]

Gov’t to spend P1.5B for upgrade of coast guard vessels

MANILA, Philippines–The government will spend P1.5 billion over the next two years to rehabilitate Philippine Coast Guard vessels using funds from Malampaya gas field, Transportation and Communication Secretary Manuel Roxas II said Thursday. Roxas underscored the need to modernize the PCG so it could watch the 36,000 kilometers of coastline in the country and also because there were “100 million other Filipinos traversing our sea lanes in all other parts of country.” Part of the P1.5 Read more [...]

Philippines to receive 10 new patrol ships from Japan

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines is acquiring 10 brand new patrol ships from Japan to boost the country’s territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea. “Japan is offering assistance [to boost] our maritime capability,” Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin told reporters in a phone interview. Vice Admiral Edmund Tan of the Philippine Coast Guard said the patrol ships will be used by the PCG. The loan is now for approval of the National Economic Development Authority, Tan said. Asked Read more [...]