PCG sets up command posts on 3 islands in West Philippine Sea

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Friday said that it has established Command Observation Posts on three islands, which are expected to improve its maritime domain awareness in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, the PCG said the command posts were set up on Likas, Lawak, and Parola Islands on May 17. [Read PCG Facebook post]

"Through these COPs, we improve our capabilities in promoting maritime safety, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection," PCG Commandant Admiral Abu said.

The PCG said its Task Force Kaligtasan sa Karagatan built a smart house and installed radio communications in these areas with the deployment of the largest Coast Guard contingent in the WPS.

Photos from PCG Facebook post

Abu said these COPs are in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade to support the maritime transportation and shipping industry by improving security.

"These COPs will optimize the strategic deployment of PCG assets by monitoring the movement of merchant ships in its surrounding waters and communicating maritime incidents to the PCG National Headquarters," he said.

Abu said that the COPs would guide domestic and international ships passing the country's waters through safe and secure sea lines of communications.

According to the PCG, the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) and National Security Council Adviser Secretary Hermogenes Esperon backed the project. —LBG, GMA News