The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Office for Transportation Security (OTS) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement ( MOA ) on International Ship and Port Facility Security at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila, yesterday, 15 October 2024.

This occurred during the courtesy visit of OTS Administrator, Undersecretary Crisaldo Nieves, to PCG Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan PCG.

Under the MOA, the PCG shall perform control and compliance measures prescribed under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, relative to the security of ships in or intending to call at any Philippine ports.

The PCG and OTS also agreed to conduct joint training and capacity-building initiatives.

As part of the agreement, both parties shall cooperate in incident reporting, joint investigation and operations, ensuring maritime transport security, as well as adhering to the provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) No. 197 dated 04 February 2016 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and the National Security Program for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure (NSPSTMI).

Undersecretary Nieves expressed his appreciation to the PCG for its continued efforts towards strengthening the Philippine maritime security landscape.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our nation’s history in ensuring both the safety and security of our maritime domains through the signing of this MOA between the OTS and the PCG. This partnership embodies our collective aspiration to bolster maritime security across our vast archipelago," the OTS Administrator expressed.

For his part, Admiral Gavan shared that the PCG-OTS partnership represented more than a formal arrangement, but a symbol of shared vision for growth, innovation, and an integrated approach to maritime security.