THE Senate is set to tackle a measure that aims to reform and reorganize the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) when Congress resumes its regular session on Jan. 13, 2025.
The PCG, established by the virtue of Republic Act 9993, is an armed and uniformed service attached to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In the event Senate Bill 2903 was enacted into law, the PCG would remain under the DOTr, except in times of war, when, as declared by Congress, it would be attached to the Department of National Defense.
The bill, authored by Sens. Jinggoy Estrada, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, and sponsored by Senate President Chiz Escudero, was created in response to the country’s growing maritime challenges in the West Philippine Sea.
Under the measure, the PCG organizational structure will be headed by an admiral-rank commandant. The deputy commandants for operations and administration, both vice admirals, will assist the commandant.
It shall be organized into three core functional commands: the Maritime Safety Services Command, the Marine Environmental Protection Command, and the Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command.
The President of the Philippines shall appoint the commandant from among the flag officers in the Coast Guard service who have earned the command-at-sea badge and must have served as district commander and functional service commander, including other major commanders with the vice admiral rank.
The commandant shall serve a maximum term of two years or until age 57, whichever comes first. However, if the commandant completes the maximum term before turning 57, they shall be required to retire and will receive all appropriate benefits.
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