Coast Guard seeks 75,000 personnel to cover Philippine coasts

The Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday said it is proposing to have a total of P75,000 personnel to cover the coastal areas in the country.

During a hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Services, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Administration Vice Admiral Oscar Endona Jr. suggested two personnel per coastal kilometer.

"Before it’s one personnel per coastal kilometer. (We are proposing) two personnel, one kilometer. I believe our exact length is more than 36,000,” he said as he confirmed that the PCG needs 75,000 personnel.

Currently, the PCG has 21,000 personnel only.

The Senate committee is reviewing bills for the revision of PCG laws as well as for the institutionalization of the PCG Auxiliary and the creation of PCG Academy.

According to the Department of Budget and Management, the PCG would need around P39 billion budget only for the services of the target 75,000 personnel.

The PCG has P13.2 billion budget under General Appropriations Act for 2021.

The DBM said it would look into the budgetary requirement of the proposal to prevent  an “unfunded law.” — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA News