Philippine Coast Guard. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MEXICO, Pampanga — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inaugurated a newly constructed substation in Candijay town in Bohol while similar facilities are set to rise in Samar and Aurora in a move seen to bolster the maritime security near Benham (Philippine) Rise.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led the inauguration of the new facility on Wednesday.
Gavan said the construction of Coast Guard Substation (CGS) Candijay commenced on April 11 2023 and was completed on February 16, 2024.
“The establishment of the new sub-station in Candijay, Bohol marks a significant step forward in enhancing maritime safety and security within their area of responsibility,” Gavan said in a statement on Thursday, citing the CGS Eastern Bohol.
New substations
Also, Gavan said another substation will rise in Villarreal town in Samar.
This development comes after the successful signing of the deed of donation between Coast Guard District Eastern Visayas Commander, Commodore Romeo Pulido Jr. and Villareal Mayor Carlo Latorre on Monday, May 6.
The 500-square-meter donated lot where Coast Guard infrastructure will be constructed “will augment maritime security and maritime safety operations within the locality,” Gavan said in another statement.
In a related development, the Coast Guard District North Western Luzon (CGDNWLZN) received a 500-square-meter lot in Dipaculao, Aurora on Tuesday, May 7.
Gavan, Dipaculao town mayor Danny Tolentino and CGDNWLZN Commander Captain Ludovico Librilla Jr. graced the event.
“This momentous event is a significant step towards safeguarding our nation’s interest,” said Librilla during the event, as quoted by PCG in another statement.
Benham Rise
PCG’s construction frenzy came amid sightings of Chinese research vessels near Benham Rise, a 24-million-hectare undersea feature part of the Philippine continental shelf and is inside the country’s exclusive economic zone.
For this year alone, there were two incidents of Chinese research presence in the undersea feature.
A Chinese research vessel was spotted off Viga, Catanduanes late April, while two research vessels were spotted there in March.