PCG activates auxiliary district in Kalayaan Island Group

Make this your preferred source to get more updates from this publisher on Google.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday said it has activated its Coast Guard Auxiliary District in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In a statement, PCG spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said the move aims to strengthen presence and coordination with residents and local authorities in the area.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan led the activation ceremony during his visit to Pag-asa Island.

The event also included the donning and oath-taking of new members of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), led by Kalayaan Mayor Beltsazar "Billy" Alindogan.

The new auxiliary members include Department of Education teachers, members of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, and officials of the Kalayaan local government.

"The activation of the Auxiliary District here in Pag-asa means that the civilians of Kalayaan now stand shoulder to shoulder with your Coast Guard," Gavan said.

According to Gavan, volunteers from Kalayaan would also become government partners in protecting the country's sovereign rights in the WPS.

"Volunteerism is not only about responding to emergencies; it is also about showing the world that Filipinos live here, serve here, and will continue to protect what is rightfully ours," he said.

The activation of the Coast Guard Auxiliary District complements the establishment of the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group.

During his visit, Gavan also recognized Pag-asa Island youth who graduated as Sea Scouts after completing PCG-led training in Basic Life Support and Water Search and Rescue.

The Sea Scout graduates received school bags from Operation Brotherhood Community Montessori.

Gavan also awarded PCG personnel who responded to a suspected blast fishing incident near Pag-asa Island on October 4.

The inter-agency team, led by the Coast Guard District Kalayaan Island Group and joined by the Philippine Navy, including Marines, and the PNP Maritime Group, responded to a report of suspected dynamite fishing near Sandy Cays 2 and 3, about three nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island. — VBL, GMA News