Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan PCG, has joined the 4th ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF) High-Level Meeting in Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand, from 25 to 26 June 2025.

This was pursued to amplify the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for the PCG to consistently foster regional dialogue and strengthen multilateral partnerships, contributing to a rules-based maritime order in Southeast Asia.

A key item on the agenda was the review and refinement of the ACF Terms of Reference (TOR) and Concept Paper. The meeting further agreed to work closely toward the early adoption of these documents to formalize the ACF as an ASEAN Sectoral Body.

In continuation of its active participation, the PCG also presented its 2024 ACF-related activities and initiatives, which included capacity building, people-to-people exchanges, port visits, and operational cooperation. These efforts reflected the PCG’s strong support for the Forum’s goals and objectives.

Furthermore, the PCG formally conveyed its intent to host the ACF High-Level Meeting in 2026, in line with the Philippines’ Chairship of the ASEAN Summit in the same year. This manifestation was welcomed by ACF member agencies and underscores the PCG’s unwavering commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation, security, and interoperability within the ASEAN region.

The PCG has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining and expanding ACF initiatives, particularly in the areas of capacity building, people-to-people exchanges, port visits, operational cooperation, and the ship rider program. As part of this effort, it has expressed its readiness to offer the Coast Guard Officer Senior Executive Course (CGOSEC), recognized as the equivalent of the General Staff Corps (GSC) of the Philippine Army, to officers from ACF Member Agencies in its next iteration.

Likewise, the PCG has opened its doors to officers and personnel from ACF Member Agencies to participate in short, specialized, and technical courses to be delivered through its training programs.

The said meeting were attended by the Coast Guard and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies from Brunei Darussalam, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (as an observer) to discuss the advancement of regional cooperation under the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum.