PCG: Coast Guard District South Western Mindanao (CGDSWM) celebrated its 49th Founding Anniversary on Thursday, 09 March 2017 at Tangan Gym, Naval Station Romulo Espaldon, Bagong Calarian, Zamboanga City graced by the Officer-in-Charge, Philippine Coast Guard, Commodore Joel S Garcia PCG, Ph.D., H.D., Al-Haj as the Guest of Honor.

An Arrival honors was rendered to COMMO GARCIA PCG which was officially received by the District Commander, CAPT JOSE WILLIAM U ISAGA PCG.

Among who also attended the momentous event were the Deputy Commander of Naval Force Western Mindanao, Captain Dorvin Jose L Legaspi PN (GSC); Commander of Task Force Zamboanga, Colonel Bagnus Gaerlan; Ms Rowela Binobo from the Office of the City Mayor; representative from Western Mindanao Command, personnel from Coast Guard units, government and non-government stakeholders and awardees from the maritime sector. 

Meanwhile, COMMO GARCIA PCG considered CGDSWM as his most special PCG district where he had recruited the most during his time as Coast Guard Staff for Human Resource Management (CG-1). Announcing the approval of the DBM for the additional 4,000 recruits for the PCG, CGDSWM will be among the beneficiary to process recruitment.

Moreover, CAPT ISAGA PCG expressed his gratitude to COMMO GARCIA PCG, the district's stakeholders, men and women of CGDSWM who have painstakingly contributed for the over-all success for the anniversary celebration.

One of the highlights of the said event was the conferment of awards to Coast Guard Station (CGS) Pagadian as Station of the Year “Bravo” which was received by Lieutenant Carlos M Dela Rosa Jr, CGS Bongao as Station of the Year “Charlie” which was received by Lieutenant Commander Jesse Guiniling PCG, Coast Guard Sub Station (CGSS) Sangali as CGDSWM Sub-Station of the Year and received by Senior Chief Petty Officer Adonis G Marzo PCG, Petty Officer Third Class Meljun Villacurra PCG as CGDSWM Non-Officer of the Year, 312th Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) Squadron as the PCGA Squadron of the Year which was received by Commander Kenneth Lloyd Sumugat PCGA and 19 individual awards to different CGDSWM personnel afloat and ashore.