Coast guards of Philippines, China hold joint drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) yesterday held a joint maritime drill with the Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) on search and rescue operations and firefighting in the waters off Manila. 

The drill is meant to strengthen understanding, mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries in promoting maritime security and law enforcement in the West Philippine Sea, PCG spokesman Capt. Armand Balilo said.

“The activity has allowed PCG and CCG to exercise interoperability and strengthen their capabilities in responding to such crisis,” he said. 

In yesterday’s drill, the PCG simulated receiving a distress report on a cargo vessel that caught fire, then coordinated the rescue through a hotline between the two coast guards.

The PCG deployed its 44-meter multi-role response vessel while the CCG dispatched its law enforcement vessel 5204, which arrived at Pier 15 in Manila on Tuesday and will be in the Philippines until Friday.

In a related development, PCG commandant Adm. Joel Garcia urged Filipinos to move forward amid the government’s effort to strengthen ties with China and come up with a mechanism to protect local fishermen.

Garcia welcomed his Chinese counterpart, Maj. Gen. Wang Zhongcai, who arrived in the country on Tuesday morning.