The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum to discuss maritime security, including the safety and security in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), in Davao from 04 to 07 June 2024.

In the opening ceremony held this morning, PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, who hold the forum chairmanship, said  that the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum provides the PCG, which is also the oldest Coast Guard in ASEAN, the opportunity to help inspire its fellow Coast Guard Guards in the region towards common understanding and cooperation to ensure safe, secure, and prosperous ASEAN maritime region based on international law, including UNCLOS and its relevant conventions, the arbitral award, treaties, and other legal instruments to which ASEAN countries are parties in the spirit of ASEAN centrality.

CG Admiral Gavan also shared that forum is very significant for the Philippines especially at this point of geopolitical challenges to share the Philippines country position as mentioned to the world by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in his keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last week.

According to PCG Spokesperson, CG Rear Admiral Armando Balilo, the forum aims to widen the coordination and cooperation among the 10 ASEAN member-countries on issues in addressing illegal activities at sea such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal fishing, piracy, and entrance of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

CG Rear Admiral Balilo also said the forum would pave the way for ASEAN countries to have a unified voice on the different maritime challenges and security threats in the region.

“The participating Coast Guard officials will finalize the concept paper and terms of reference (TOR), and initiate the crafting of the South East Asian Protocols on Engagements At Sea for ASEAN Coast Guards and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies (SEA-PEACE) to guide ASEAN Coast Guard in dealing with various maritime law enforcement operations at sea,” CG Rear Admiral Balilo added.

The Coast Guard Spokesperson explained having a regular forum is important because it gives the member-countries’ different maritime law enforcement agencies a venue to plan out, take action, and operate to preserve the peace and order in Southeast Asia.

Ahead of the Davao forum, the PCG already sent its Special Operations Force (SOF) and K9 Force on board the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), as an advance party to help secure the venue.