Sa unang pagkakataon, magsasagawa ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ng trilateral maritime exercise kasama ang United States Coast Guard (USCG) at Japan Coast Guard (JCG) sa kalapit na karagatan sa Mariveles, Bataan mula Hunyo 1 hanggang Hunyo 7 ngayong taon.
Sa ulat ng PCG nitong Lunes, Mayo 29, layon ng PCG-USCG-JCG maritime exercise na palakason ang “interoperability” ng bawat bansa sa pamamagitan ng communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue (SAR), at passing exercises.
“Participating Coast Guard personnel will demonstrate a scenario involving a suspected vessel involved in piracy. The joint law enforcement team from the three Coast Guards will conduct a boarding inspection followed by a SAR operation,” anang PCG.
Ayon kay Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., PCG officer-in-charge, palalakasin din ng nasabing maritime exercise ang maritime cooperation at understanding ng mga ito.
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"The US Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard have been assisting us in our human resource development program, particularly in law enforcement training. This is a good opportunity to thank and show them what our personnel learned from their programs," ani Punzalan.
Sa ulat pa ng PCG, ide-deploy nito ang BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Boracay (FPB-2401), at isang 44-meter multi-role response vessel, habang ang USCG ay magpapadala naman ng USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752) at ang at JCG ay magpapadala ng Akitsushima (PLH-32).
Nakuha umano ng PCG ang BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) at ang kalahok na 44-meter MRRV sa pamamagitan ng Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)- Department of Transportation (DOTr) Maritime Safety Improvement Project.
“Furthermore, the week-long engagement will involve a sporting event to strengthen the three Coast Guards' camaraderie, a special interest exchange for women in maritime law enforcement, and an expert exchange for PCG personnel's professional development,” saad ng PCG.
Iimbitahan umano ng PCG sina U.S Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Loss Carlson, Embassy of Japan's Deputy Chief of Mission at Minister Kenichi Matsuda, Department of Foreign Affairs, (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista, at JICA Chief Representative sa Pilipinas Takema Sakamoto upang salubungin ang mga contingent ng USCG at JCG sa pamamagitan ng arrival ceremony sa Pier 15, South Harbor, Manila, sa Hunyo 1.
