19-6-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has dispatched its vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang, to participate in the highly anticipated Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2024 in Bacolod. This multinational endeavor brings together the coast guards of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, united in their commitment to safeguarding the marine environment and honing their collective response capabilities.
According to the PCG, the exercise serves as a crucial platform for enhancing coordination and preparedness among the participating nations, ensuring a swift and effective response to potential maritime pollution incidents. Coast Guard Commodore Rejard Marfe, representing Coast Guard fleet commander CG Rear Admiral Edgar Ybañez, underscored the significance of this undertaking during the send-off ceremony for BRP Gabriela Silang at Panacan Wharf in Davao City.
“This exercise underscores our steadfast dedication to protecting these precious waters from securing our maritime borders to executing swift emergency responses,” Marfe declared. “We exemplify steadfast guardianship to our nation’s ship serving as a beacon of safety and protection of the open waters.”
Scheduled to take place from June 24 to June 29, the maritime exercise promises to be a comprehensive endeavor, encompassing a range of critical scenarios and response protocols. According to a report by the Philippine News Agency, representatives from the coast guards of each participating country will engage in exercises focused on search and rescue operations, firefighting techniques, oil spill recovery procedures, equipment retrieval, and damage assessment methodologies.
The collective efforts of the Philippine, Indonesian, and Japanese coast guards during MARPOLEX 2024 will not only strengthen their individual capabilities but also foster a deeper understanding of regional cooperation and coordination.
