The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Occidental Mindoro Lone District Representative Leody Tarriela urge House leaders to support House Resolutions Nos. 243 and 244 creating the Coast Guard Regional Training Center and Coast Guard Response Base in Occidental Mindoro.

Based on House Resolution No. 243, Representative Tarriela emphasized the PCG's need for additional funding for constructing the Coast Guard Regional Training Center in Paluan, Occidental Mindoro.

According to the lawmaker, the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Paluan will donate a parcel of land to construct the said infrastructure. He also highlighted the project's perceived benefit for the province's coastal communities and residents.

“This will allow the PCG to [intensify its maritime] security [operations] within the area and nearby vicinities. It will also provide employment and boost the economic development of the province since its construction entails labor and manpower,” Representative Tarriela said.

PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, thanked the legislator for recognizing the organization's need for another regional training center to expand its recruitment capacity and accelerate the growth of its manpower.

To date, the PCG has five regional training centers located in Bagac, Bataan; Taguig City; San Fernando, La Union; Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental; and Zamboanga City.

Due to the limited capacities of these regional training centers, the PCG can only accommodate less than 4,000 trainees every recruitment cycle.

Under House Resolution No. 244, Representative Tarriela enjoins his fellow legislators to supply additional funding for creating the Coast Guard Response Base in the same municipality.

The said infrastructure, the lawmaker stressed, will serve "as a staging point of Coast Guard ships for the preparation of response missions to Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales and Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippine Sea."

“Paluan Bay is located near the Mindoro Strait, which is considered as an international sea lane. The creation of Coast Guard Response Base in this location will enable the PCG to immediately [conduct] maritime search and rescue [operations],” Representative Tarriela added.

The Lone District Representative of Occidental Mindoro also pointed out that the facility shall serve as a sheltering area to accommodate the increasing number of Coast Guard vessels and other floating assets during inclement weather.

Once approved, it will be constructed on another parcel of land that the LGU of Paluan will donate to the PCG.

"We thank our good Congressman Tarriela for instigating the provision of additional funding for the construction of the Coast Guard Regional Training Center and creation of the Coast Guard Response Base in Paluan," CG Admiral Abu said.

"We are confident that our trustworthy lawmakers will consider his proposals for us to boost our capability in securing the country's 37,000-kilometer coastline, safeguarding our local fishermen, conducting maritime law enforcement operations, protecting our rich marine resources, and providing our fellow Filipinos with humanitarian assistance in times of emergencies," the Coast Guard Commandant expressed.

###