MANILA, Philippines. (21 October 2019) – The Philippine Coast Guard rendered an arrival honor to the Commandant of United States Coast Guard (USCG) Admiral Karl l Schultz, as he paid a courtesy call to the Commandant of Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Admiral Elson E Hermogino today at the PCG National Headquarters.

During the visit, the USCG briefly discussed their support and presence in the Asia Pacific Region. After paying a courtesy call to Admiral Hermogino, Admiral Schultz, together with other delegates, boarded and toured one of the PCG’s Multi Role Response Vessels, MRRV 4401-BRP Tubbataha and Fast Patrol Boat (FPB) 2404-BRP Kalanggaman.

Subsequently, Admiral Schultz visited the PCG’s Deputy Commandant for Administration who is also the current Executive Director of the National Coast Watch Center, Vice Admiral Joel S Garcia PCG, Ph.D., H.D, Al-Haj and was briefed on the current activities of the agency.

Admiral Schultz stated on his speech, “My goal for the U.S Coast Guard is to be a transparent and preferred partner in the region. Thus, we to tailor our services and training to the needs of the specific nation we are supporting. Our long-term commitment to capacity building spans the range of Coast Guard expertise, including transferring cutters through the Excess Defense articles program – including three former Coast Guard 378-foot High Endurance Cutters to the Philippine Navy; multi-national security exercises; bilateral search-and-rescue and law enforcement agreements; hosting ship riders; and deploying training teams to share technical expertise and build proficiency”.

Admiral Schultz also expressed his gratitude to the PCG for the for the warm welcome extended to him today and last Saturday when he was in Puerto Princesa, Palawan to visit USCG Cutter Stratton during the maritime drill "Sama Sama".

This is the second time that the USCG Commandant visited the Philippine Coast Guard after USCG former Commandant, Admiral Paul F Zukunft last September 2015.