The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) held maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea, the PCG said on Sunday, April 25.
The drills were held on Saturday, April 24, near Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) and near Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea that belongs to the Philippines.
Eight ships from the PCG and BFAR joined the drills on Saturday, April 24, to undergo training in navigation, maintenance, small boat operations, and logistics.
BRP Gabriela Silang and BRP Sindangan started their drills near Panatag Shoal on Saturday, while BRP Cabra, BRP Malapascua, and PCG-manned vessels of BFAR conducted theirs near Pag-asa Island last week, said the PCG
Other PCG personnel, such as doctors, nurses, and lawyers, participated in lectures and drills on piloting, firefighting, manual plotting, and life support, according to the PCG.
“We are supporting the whole-of-nation approach in securing our maritime jurisdiction, especially the efforts of the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) to undertake maritime security, maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, maritime search and rescue, and marine environmental protection roles in our country’s waters,” said PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo.
The drills come as tensions between the Philippines and China heat up over Chinese ships that refuse to leave Julian Felipe Reef (Whitsun Reef) in the West Philippine Sea.
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– Rappler.com
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