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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) welcomed 2,000 new recruits to be deployed to different districts even before their official training.
PCG chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led the oath taking of the 1,698 male and 302 female PCG draftees at the agency headquarters in Port Area, Manila.
鈥淭he PCG draftees will be deployed to different PCG Districts and units to augment the Coast Guard workforce, while waiting for the schedule of their PCG training,鈥� Gavan said in a statement.
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With the 2,000 additional personnel, the agency now has an estimated workforce of 34,000 personnel as of December 2024.
Earlier, PCG鈥檚 flagship multirole response vessel BRP Gabriela Silang also returned to the country Monday following its five-day Manado, Indonesia port visit.
鈥淏ehind this accomplishment lies the unwavering professionalism of the men and women of the Philippine Coast Guard, whose tireless efforts have made this mission a resounding success,鈥� Gavan also said.
鈥淭hese personnel represent the core values of service, integrity, and honor, upholding the mission of the PCG both at home and on the international stage,鈥� he added.
Gavan said the PCG plans similar engagements with Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia.
It can be recalled that last August, Vietnam Coast Guard sent its ship to Manila for a five-day visit which culminated in the maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea.
In a related development, Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars L酶kke Rasmussen, also paid a courtesy visit at PCG Headquarters. Rasmussen was welcomed by PCG鈥檚 Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command Commander Vice Admiral Robert Patrimonio.
Rasmussen was also provided with the insights on the current situation in the West Philippine Sea, with officials from Manila and Amsterdam also discussing possible future collaborations which includes capacity building programs.