CLARK, PAMPANGA – To further advance public safety and national security, the Department of Transportation - Philippines (DOTr), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) have conducted the groundbreaking ceremony for the first-ever PCG – PPA K9 Academy yesterday, 25 August 2021. 

DOTr Secretary Art Tugade graced the momentous event, together with PCG Commandant, Admiral George V Ursabia Jr, PPA General Manager, Atty. Jay Daniel R. Santiago and Clark Development Corporation (CDC) President and CEO, Police Brigadier General Manuel R Gaerlan (Ret).

“Itong ginawa natin ngayon ay simbolo lamang. Pero yung simbolismo na ito ay nagsasabi na tutuloy at tutuloy ang PCG K9 Academy, now in partnership with PPA; now being realized because of Clark Development Corporation,” Secretary Tugade said.

“Kaya mahalaga na sasabihin ko: Kung magsasama-sama ang iba’t-ibang sektor ng gobyerno; magsasama-sama sa isang bisyon, sa isang misyon – magkakatotoo at magkakatotoo ‘ho ‘yan. That is why it gives me honor. It gives me happiness. It gives me satisfaction that today, a dream will be realized,” he added.

The PCG – PPA K9 Academy shall be strategically constructed in a 10-hectare land area inside the Special Economic Zone in Clark, Pampanga, and is scheduled to commence construction this year.

With an initial budget allocation of Php 100 million donated by the PPA, the PCG – PPA K9 Academy shall serve as the country’s center for comprehensive and advanced training for all Coast Guard working dogs and their handlers to produce PCG K9 units that are highly efficient in search and rescue (SAR), threat detection, and fugitive apprehension.

It will also cater to future K9 units the PPA intends to recruit and integrate into the government corporation, saving Php 30 million of its annual budget allocated in hiring private working dogs and K9 handlers to maintain port security.

Upon completion, the PCG National K9 Institute shall be equipped with a breeding facility and veterinary clinic for the working dogs. It will also have a live explosive training site, an indoor training area, conference rooms for K9 handlers, and sufficient billeting spaces for in-house instructors, staff, and trainees.

The PCG and PPA envision the joint venture to increase the number of the DOTr’s active working dogs to at least 1,000 units for tactical deployment in all sea, road, rail, and air transport facilities across the country.

As of today, 26 August 2021, the Coast Guard K9 Force has a total of 414 working dogs and 266 active K9 handlers. They undergo obedience training and specialty courses every six months to improve the performance of their mandated functions on maritime law enforcement, maritime security, maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection.