PCG starts revamp

Philippine Coast Guard commandant Admiral Damian Carlos yesterday ordered a major revamp in the PCG in a bid to improve its efficiency in performing basic tasks and help in combating threats to national security at sea.

On top of the reshuffle order was Commodore Ramon Liwag, who was appointed as commander of the Maritime Security Law Enforcement Command, formerly known as Coast Guard Operational Forces. He replaces Rear Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, who was recently promoted as Vice Commandant for Administration.

Other Coast Guard officials included in the list were: Commodore Arturo Olavario, who was named commander of Marine Environmental Protection Command; Commodore Lino Dabi, new commander of Coast Guard Logistics and Resource Management Command; Capt. Rolando Ricafrente, commander of Maritime Safety Services Command; Capt. Joel Garcia, commander of PCG Communications and Information System Command; and Capt. Rodolfo Isorena, commander of Coast Guard Education and Training command.

In the same directive, Carlos has also ordered the consolidation of the Coast Guard’s 10 regional districts into five major commands.

The Coast Guard District National Capital Region – Central Luzon in Manila now becomes Coast Guard Northern Luzon and will move its headquarters to San Fernando in La Union. It would be headed by Commodore Alejandro Flora.

Carlos said PCG District Southern Luzon is renamed as Coast Guard Southern Luzon, which now covers the Bicol region with Commodore Cecil Chen as commander.

The Coast Guard districts in Cebu and Iloilo were merged as Coast Guard Visayas with headquarters in Arellano Boulevard in Cebu City under Commodore Edmund Tan as commander.

The same was done in the two districts in Zamboanga and Davao. The new Coast Guard Mindanao command is now based in Sasa wharf in Davao with Commodore Rolando Dizon as commander.

The PCG chief also said their districts in Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan were merged under Coast Guard MIMAROPA command, which will be based in Puerto Princesa City with Commodore Luis Tuazon as commander. – Edu Punay