PCG to deploy new air asset over West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday announced that its newly acquired air asset, a Piper PA-31 Navajo, would be used for Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) flights over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, the PCG also said that four of their new pilots have completed their transition training enabling them to command the Piper PA-31 Navajo that has tail number PCG-221.

The Coast Guard said the integration of PCG-221 into their Coast Guard Aviation Command (CGAvCom) fleet further enhances the maritime agency’s mission readiness capability, especially amid the rising tensions in the WPS.

In recent years, the PCG has experienced harassment from the China Coast Guard that has been intruding in Philippine territory amid its continuous claim on the WPS.

“With additional aircraft and qualified aviators, CGAvCom is now more capable of conducting maritime domain awareness flights, sovereignty patrols, and rapid response operations across the nation’s maritime zones,” the PCG said.

The CGAvCom said with the addition of the PCG-221, the command would be able to respond faster and more efficiently, as air operations remain the most effective means to project presence, provide assistance, and safeguard Philippine waters.

In an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, PCG spokesperson Capt. Noemie Cayabyab said that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) exercise was conducted in San Juan, La Union last Aug. 19 to determine the capability of their drones in aerial surveillance, coastal monitoring and emergency response.

She said that the PCG has been using their drones in operations, including search and rescue (SAR) efforts and could be used to intensify their MDA.

Their drones are capable of flying for 40 to 60 minutes.

Cayabyab explained that the UAVs could provide higher resolution images and real-time reporting in areas that they would be deployed, thus hasten their SAR operations, have better documentation and improve their capability to locate the area that require Coast Guard’s assistance.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 18 the PCG launched the Intensified Community Assistance Awareness Rescue and Enforcement (iCARE) program and the Coast Guard System Information for Search and Rescue and Responses (CGSISARR).

The iCARE program provides the PCG with a structured framework for maritime safety, maritime security, maritime law enforcement, and community service.

The CGSISARR introduces a technology-based reporting system that enables real-time monitoring of unit performance and more efficient mandate execution.

PCG commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said that during the workshop, Coast Guard officers discussed mission performance, capability development, and inter-agency collaboration to strengthen the agency’s functional roles.

While the subject matter experts from the National Security Council, the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns and the National Maritime Center provided briefings on the government’s maritime thrusts and strategic directions.