ASEAN countries to meet for coast guard forum —PCG

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are set to meet for a coast guard and maritime law enforcement forum in Davao City from June 5 to 8, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Monday.

In a statement, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the forum will cover their cooperation for regional security, marine resources protection, as well as the West Philippine Sea.

“Layon ng naturang inisyatibo na pagtibayin ang kooperasyon tungo sa seguridad ng rehiyon... Magsasagawa rin ng information sharing at pagpapahayag ng kooperasyon upang protektahan ang yamang dagat ng Southeast Asia,” he said.

(The aim of such an initiative is to strengthen cooperation towards the security of the region... Information sharing and expression of cooperation will also be conducted to protect the marine resources of Southeast Asia.)

“Dagdag pa rito, target ng ASEAN Coast Guard Forum na palawakin ang ugnayan ng mga miyembro nito, lalo na sa mga usaping may kinalaman sa kaligtasan at seguridad sa West Philippine Sea,” he added.

(Additionally, the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum aims to expand relations among its members, especially in matters related to safety and security in the West Philippine Sea.)

The ASEAN countries will tackle their cooperation against drug trafficking, human smuggling, illegal fishing, piracy, as well as the entry of weapons of mass destruction in the region.

Balilo pointed out the importance of such a forum for ASEAN to discuss plans, actions, and operations of their maritime law enforcement agencies to maintain security and order in Southeast Asian waters.

As a host of the ASEAN coast guard forum, the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao is ready to secure the event, Balilo said.

BRP Gabriela Silang with PCG personnel from Coast Guard Special Operations Force and Coast Guard K9 Force are already at Davao Port, he added.

“Naka-standby na rin ang mga PCG quick response teams upang maitaguyod ang kaligtasan ng lahat ng makikibahagi sa aktibidad mula sa Pilipinas, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, at Thailand,” Balilo said.

(The PCG quick response teams are also on standby to ensure the safety of all those who will participate in the activity from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.) —KBK, GMA Integrated News