Vietnam Coast Guard Ship Arrives in Manila for Joint Drills with Philippines

-


MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Vietnamese Coast Guard (VCG) are set to conduct joint exercises focusing on search and rescue (SAR) operations, as well as fire and explosion prevention, in Manila Bay today.


Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, spokesperson for the PCG, assured that no actual fires will be ignited during the exercises, ensuring that the drills will not interfere with the ongoing oil spill cleanup in Bataan. The oil spill, caused by the sinking of the motor tankers Terra Nova and Jason Bradley, and the grounding of the motor vessel Mirola 1, has resulted in patches of oil sheen in the bay.


"The exercises will be conducted far from the oil spill's ground zero," Balilo stated.


In a press release, the PCG announced that the VCG vessel CSB 8002, with an 80-man crew led by VCG Region 2 Vice Commander Colonel Hoang Quoc Dat, will dock at Manila port for a four-day visit from August 5 to 9.


Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG Commandant, will greet the VCG delegation. Gavan emphasized that the visit aims to foster mutual understanding and strengthen cooperation between the two coast guards.


"Following a low-key arrival ceremony on August 5, Coast Guard officers and personnel will board CSB 8002 for a vessel tour. This will be followed by a courtesy call by the VCG to the PCG Commandant at the National Headquarters and a fellowship sports activity at the PCG Gymnasium," Balilo added.


A planning conference will then take place to discuss the SAR exercise and fire and explosion prevention training.


During their stay, VCG officials will also tour the National Coast Watch Center, the Marine Science Investigation Force Laboratory, and the PCG's 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang.


"The visit will conclude with the SAR, fire, and explosion prevention training, and a passing exercise in the waters of Manila Bay. CSB 8002 will depart Philippine waters after a comprehensive debriefing and evaluation of the joint PCG-VCG activities," Balilo said.


Earlier this year, President Marcos and Admiral Gavan visited Hanoi to discuss the strong bilateral relations between the PCG and VCG.


On January 30, the PCG and VCG formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation, aimed at strengthening their mutual trust and confidence.


The MOU outlines the establishment of a Joint Coast Guard Committee to discuss common issues and interests, as well as the creation of a hotline communication mechanism.


Through these collaborative efforts, the PCG and VCG aim to enhance their strategic partnership by promoting, preserving, and protecting their mutual interests in the Southeast Asian region.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Philippines Conducts Joint Patrols with US, Canada, and Australia

-
Image
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines commenced two days of joint maritime and aerial exercises with the United States, Canada, and Australia on Wednesday, as outlined in a joint statement, amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea with China. These operations, taking place "within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone," aim to demonstrate the collective commitment of the four nations to enhance regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The exercises come at a time when China's aggressive posturing towards Taiwan and its claims over the South China Sea have raised concerns about a potential conflict that could involve the United States. China asserts sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea, disregarding an international tribunal ruling that deemed its claims unfounded.  Last week, the Philippines conducted separate naval drills in the South China Sea, first with the United States and then with Japan tw...
Read more

DepEd Faces August Deadline to Fill Over 20,000 Teacher Vacancies

-
Image
M ANILA, Philippines —  With only a month left before the deadline, the Department of Education (DepEd) has filled just 9 percent of the 22,323 available teaching positions across the country. During an oversight hearing with the House committee on appropriations, Education Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development Wilfredo Cabral reported that approximately 22 percent of the vacancies are in various stages of the hiring process. "As of this date, we have filled 9 percent of these positions. Twenty-two percent of the total teaching items are already in different stages of appointment. We have also implemented a monitoring system for all regions to verify compliance," Cabral stated. Efforts to Address the Shortfall Cabral mentioned that last year, the DepEd issued a memorandum order instructing regional directors and schools division superintendents to create catch-up plans aimed at filling the vacant teaching positions. He emphasized that the department...
Read more

COA Flags Cebu City for Unused P1.4B Disaster Fund

-
Image
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has raised concerns about Cebu City’s Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (LDRRMF). In its 2023 report, COA revealed that the city failed to utilize P1.456 billion from its disaster fund for the years 2022 and 2023. COA highlighted that this non-utilization undermines the fund’s purpose of bolstering disaster preparedness and response capabilities. The LDRRMF, intended to support disaster preparedness and mitigation projects, had P129,353,831.56 allocated in 2022 and an additional P1,455,856,661.59 in 2023. However, by the end of 2023, these funds remained largely unspent, with many projects still stuck in procurement or approval stages. This inaction has rendered the city’s annual investment plans ineffective, leaving it vulnerable to disasters. Legislative Framework and Fund Allocation Republic Act No. 10121, the “Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of 2010,” mandates that at least five percent of...
Read more