Pangandaman takes oath as Coast Guard auxiliary rear admiral

MANILA, Philippines — Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman yesterday took her oath as the newest appointed high-ranking member of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). On board one of the PCG’s largest ships, the BRP Melchora Aquino, PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu presided over the donning and oath-taking ceremony for Pangandaman and other Department of Budget and Management (DBM) officials.

In her message, Pangandaman commended the men and women of the PCG, as she vowed to help in its mission.

The PCGA serves as support force to the PCG in ensuring to save lives and property at sea, preserve the marine environment, conduct maritime search and rescue, maintain aids to navigation, recreational safety and other activities involving maritime relations.

Pangandaman added that the PCG, in carrying out its mission, needs full support for capacity-building through its modernization program.

“We also need strength, especially for ensuring security, and in doing search-and-rescue operations, among others. This is why we fully support the proposed modernization program of the PCG which entails not only the acquisition of top-of-the-line assets and equipment, but also building the capacity and expansion of its workforce,” Pangandaman said.

“So, as Admiral Abu said, the perfect time for the PCG modernization program is now,” the budget secretary added.

Pangandaman took her oath as auxiliary rear admiral of the PCGA executive squadron. According to the PCG, this was the first time that the unit conferred a two-star general rank on a woman upon entry.

“Rest assured the DBM is one with you in the realization of your vision to become a world-class guardian of the sea committed to saving lives, ensuring maritime transport and securing maritime jurisdiction,” she said.

For his part, Abu thanked the newest batch of the PCGA for choosing the Coast Guard as their vehicle for volunteer work and for appreciating the agency’s cause.

“Their heavy workload did not stop them from seizing this opportunity to serve the nation more. This is what volunteerism and nation-building are all about: individuals, regardless of their title, social status, religion or age, doing what they can to look after other members of the community,” Abu said.

“We in the PCG are joyfully welcoming you to our ranks as members of the PCG family,” he added.

Also part of the event was the conferment of the Civil Action Award to Pangandaman and DBM Undersecretary Goddes Hope Libiran, who is also an active member of the PCGA with the rank of auxiliary commodore.

The award was presented for the services they rendered in the medical and dental mission at the Dela Paz Norte, San Fernando, Pampanga which attended to 700 individuals.

Other newly appointed members of the PCGA who took their respective oaths include DBM Undersecretaries Maria Francesca del Rosario, Margaux Marie Salcedo, Joselito Basilio, Leo Angelo Larcia and Willford Will Wong of their respective functional groups, as well as other DBM and Department of Finance officials.