PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said they would prioritize applicants who would fit the qualifications of those who will man the new acquisitions.
“We need to recruit people with maritime-related courses such as marine engineers and marine navigation course. But we would also be needing technical experts such as those who have mechanical, welding and electrical skills or background,” said Balilo.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario discussed with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, during the latter’s visit early this week, a loan agreement for the Philippines’ procurement of 10 multi-role response vessels for the Coast Guard.
The new patrol vessels, which are expected to arrive in 2014, are expected to boost the country’s territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea.
PCG usually accepts applicants who finished even non-maritime-related courses.
“But we should now prepare for our new assets. We should prepare the right people or the crew and asset management team who would be in charge of our new vessels’ maintenance,” Balilo explained.
He added that they have one year to hire the needed personnel, who would be assigned for deck operation, navigation, gunnery and engineering.
Those who would be selected would undergo one-year training on board the new ships.
Mar 2014
Patrol boats from Japan to start arriving in 2015
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) expects delivery of two to three of 10 brand-new multi-role patrol boats from Japan by the third quarter of 2015, according to the PCG spokesman.
Cmdr. Armand Balilo, PCG public affairs office chief, told the Inquirer on Sunday the seven other 40-meter (131-foot) vessels would be delivered the following year.
“The two sides have agreed that all 10 patrol boats will be brand-new and multi-role,” Balilo said.
The Coast Guard’s current fleet consists of nine boats, which are utilized as search-and-rescue vessels. At this writing, however, only seven are operational.
According to Balilo, PCG personnel also man 10 vessels belonging to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).
The BFAR boats are used mainly in the campaign against illegal fishing and poaching in the country’s territorial waters.
In December, President Aquino announced in a news conference that the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) would provide a $184-million soft loan for the PCG’s acquisition of 10 patrol boats from Tokyo.
The President, who had just come from the Japanese capital for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Commemorative Summit, said the patrol boats would boost the country’s maritime security.
For its part, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) at Malacañang said that with the purchase of the new vessels, “the PCG could upgrade its current fleet that will strengthen its task of defending the country’s exclusive economic zone.”
“The new patrol boats will do patrols in several contested territories in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea),” the PCOO said.
Meanwhile, the PCG cited the Jica for providing a 1.15-billion yen (about P506.5 million) grant that will go to the installation of VSAT and Inmarsat communication systems at the PCG headquarters in Port Area, Manila, as well as in its district offices nationwide and on its vessels.—Jerry E. Esplanada
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