This was Department of Transportation  (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade during the vessel inspection aboard MRRV-9701 in Port Area, Manila today, 01 March 2022.

The said activity was made more meaningful as it coincided with the oath-taking ceremony of the newly-appointed Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, CG Vice Admiral Artemio M Abu.

“Do you know that his name is Art? Do you know that my first name is Art? And so today, it is a day of art. It is a day of commitment as we call it “the art of service.” Indeed today – this is a day of consecration and commitment to the service of people; to the service of government; to the service of country,” Secretary Tugade said.

During the vessel inspection led by CG Commander Erwin Tolentino, the Commanding Officer of MRRV-9701, the Transportation Secretary expressed his great awe when he witnessed the world-class facilities and equipment of the newest and largest vessel of the PCG to date – the BRP Teresa Magbanua once commissioned into the Coast Guard service.

“Today, we see Teresa Magbanua, not as the ‘Joan of Arc of the Visayas,’ but we look at Teresa Magbanua as the vessel that will take care of, not only the West Philippine Sea but will take care of the country; will take care of its people,” Secretary Tugade added.

“We have been privileged to go around the vessel. We have been privileged to see the facilities and equipment that are embedded in the vessel. Talagang world-class! Talagang pwede mong ipagmalaki! Looking at Teresa Magbanua, I am proud to be a PCG because I am an Auxiliary, but I am prouder to be a Filipino,” he furthered.

The Transportation Secretary also conveyed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte who fully supports the plans and programs towards Coast Guard modernization.

“If this is really a world-class asset that will guarantee relief, security, and safety operations, I asked: Why is it that it’s only now that we are having assets like this? It’s only now because it is only now that we have a President, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte who has the willpower to make sure that we modernize the Philippine Coast Guard,” Secretary Tugade highlighted.

For his part, Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko gladly announced that the second 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRRV) of the PCG will arrive in Port Area, Manila in May 2022.

“Japan is proud to work with the Philippines in the field of maritime law enforcement. One of the most important achievements with the many years of cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in this field is the arrival of Teresa Magbanua,” the Japan Ambassador to the Philippines said.

“These two 97-meter MRRVs symbolize the Philippine Coast Guard’s law enforcement capability and also symbolize the friendship between Japan and the Philippines. We are fully committed to the continuing and strengthening of cooperation with the Philippines in this very important field of maritime law enforcement,” he ended.

Also joining the vessel inspection were National Security Adviser, Secretary Hermogenes Esperon, and other senior officers of the PCG.