PH Coast Guard to receive 40 fast patrol crafts from French gov’t

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) opens its newest monitoring station in Itbayat, Batanes, the northernmost island province of the Philippines facing Taiwan, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. PHOTOS FROM THE OFFICE OF FRANCIS TOLENTINO/INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will receive 40 fast patrol crafts (FPCs) from the French government.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the purchase of the FPCs during the board meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority last Tuesday.

The purchase is under the P25.8-billion Official Development Assistance from the French government.

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In a Palace briefing on Thursday, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said the acquisition is “the largest single-purchase in the modernization of the PCG.”

“It is a game-changer for us. It will enable the Philippine Coast Guard to have at least two patrol boats in every district, fast enough to reach the edges of our socio-economic zone forms to enforce the laws,” he added.

Twenty of the 40 FPCs will be assembled in the Philippines as part of the government’s goal to enhance maritime security.

Gavan said some of the FPCs will be deployed to the West Philippine Sea.

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“All forms of maritime crimes because enforcement of laws requires us to be there. So, we need boats. This will also be engaged in search and rescue and environmental protection and surveillance operations,” he said.

“Giving protection to our fishermen is a fundamental duty of the coast guard. That can be part of the task of the coast guard through these boats. But not only securing our fishermen, ginagawa naman natin ‘yan kahit wala pa itong 35-meter patrol boats,” he added.