Connect with us

Philippine News

PCG acquires French sea vessels for maritime security

Published

on

the sea vessels may be deployed to deter piracy incidents in southern Mindanao and defend the country’s territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea. (Photo: 2GoTravel/ Philippines

FILE: the sea vessels may be deployed to deter piracy incidents in southern Mindanao and defend the country’s territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea. (Photo: 2GoTravel/ Philippines)

MANILA— The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has inked a deal Wednesday afternoon with a French shipbuilding firm for the acquisition of five shipping vessels for maritime security.

The contract effectiveness agreement was signed by Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary for Maritime Felipe Judan and OCEA director of maritime safety and security Fabrice Weinbach and witnessed by Secretary Arthur Tugade and French Embassy representative Laurent Estrade.

The signing paved the way for the implementation of the Philippine Ports and Coast Guard Capability Development Project. It also marks the first major vessel acquisition for the PCG under the Duterte administration.

The project involves the supply, delivery and maintenance of four brand new 24 meter fast patrol boats (FPB) and one 84 meter offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to be purchased by the DOTr for the use of the Coast Guard.

“The acquisition of the vessels will enhance the capability of the PCG in performing its functions on maritime security, safety, maritime search and rescue, marine environmental protection as well as offshore patrol of the country’s exclusive economic zone,” DOTr Assistant Secretary for Maritime Lino Dabi said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.

He said the sea vessels may be deployed to deter piracy incidents in southern Mindanao and defend the country’s territorial claims over the West Philippine Sea.

The French government has provided a loan worth 97.03 million euros through Official Development Assistance (ODA) using the remaining balance of the Greater Maritime Access (GMA) RoRo Port Projects of the Arroyo administration.

Under the agreement, supply of goods shall be made within 23 consecutive months with its first delivery to be made on the first quarter of 2018. This will involve the provision of four FPB 72 and 1 OPV 270.
The contract for the purchase of the sea vessels was signed on September 9, 2014 with OCEA and the then DOTC.
With the signing of the contract effectiveness agreement, this means that certain conditions precedent for the coming into full force and effect of the contract has already been completed.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Maria in Vancouver

Lifestyle7 hours ago

Family Estrangement: Why It’s Okay

Family estrangement is the absence of a previously long-standing relationship between family members via emotional or physical distancing to the...

Lifestyle1 month ago

Becoming Your Best Version

By Matter Laurel-Zalko As a woman, I’m constantly evolving. I’m constantly changing towards my better version each year. Actually, I’m...

Lifestyle2 months ago

The True Power of Manifestation

I truly believe in the power of our imagination and that what we believe in our lives is an actual...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

DECORATE YOUR HOME 101

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Our home interiors are an insight into our brains and our hearts. It is our own collaboration...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

Guide to Planning a Wedding in 2 Months

By Matte Laurel-Zalko Are you recently engaged and find yourself in a bit of a pickle because you and your...

Maria in Vancouver3 months ago

Staying Cool and Stylish this Summer

By Matte Laurel-Zalko I couldn’t agree more when the great late Ella Fitzgerald sang “Summertime and the livin’ is easy.”...

Maria in Vancouver4 months ago

Ageing Gratefully and Joyfully

My 56th trip around the sun is just around the corner! Whew. Wow. Admittedly, I used to be afraid of...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

My Love Affair With Pearls

On March 18, 2023, my article, The Power of Pearls was published. In that article, I wrote about the history...

Maria in Vancouver5 months ago

7 Creative Ways to Propose!

Sometime in April 2022, my significant other gave me a heads up: he will be proposing to me on May...

Maria in Vancouver6 months ago

Why Eating Healthy Matters

We are what we eat, so don’t be fast, cheap, easy, or fake — we should take these words to...