The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has successfully conducted the first-ever basic training course on civil relations service (CRS) that ran from 20 May to 01 December 2020.

Deputy Commandant for Operations, Vice Admiral Leopoldo V Laroya graced the graduation ceremony that formally marked the last day of the  Coast Guard Civil Relations Service Basic Training Course (CGCRSBTC) held at the Coast Guard Base Taguig on 01 December 2020.

He congratulated the CGCRSBTC Class 01 – 2020, composed of five students from the Coast Guard Officer’s Course (CGOC) Class 24 – 2019 and 16 students from the CGOC 25 – 2020, for surpassing the challenges and making the most out of the learning opportunities that molded them into becoming efficient CRS practitioners of the PCG.

“CRS practitioners play an important role in shaping the public image of the PCG and in addressing disinformation that discredits the sacrifices of our men and women. I encourage each and every one of you to be vanguards of the PCG’s philanthropic acts and promote transformational change, thereby strengthening the Coast Guard’s legitimacy in its humanitarian character,” VADM Laroya added.

VADM Laroya also expressed his appreciation to the officers and personnel of the Coast Guard Civil Relations Service (CGCRS) who developed the CGCRSBTC concept curriculum for the inculcation of technical expertise and professional competence on public affairs, civil affairs, and information support affairs to young civil relations practitioners of the PCG.

A total of 21 junior Coast Guard officers composed the pioneering class of the CGCRSBTC, with Probationary Ensign Frances Doren Balboa of the CGOC Class 25 – 2020 as the top student for garnering a general weighted average of 95.58%.