THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) for its first-ever mission ten days after its formal commission into the Coast Guard service on Monday, May 16, 2022.

The said multi-role response vessel (MRRV) will participate in the Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (MARPOLEX) 2022 between the PCG, Directorate of Sea Transportation (DGST) of the Republic of Indonesia, and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) in the vicinity waters off Makassar, Indonesia from May 22 to 29, 2022.

Aside from BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403) and BRP Cape Engaño (MRRV-4411) will also join MARPOLEX 2022 to assess the oil spill response capabilities of the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.

According to PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Artemio M Abu, the participating vessels will test and evaluate the Sulawesi Sea Oil Spill Response Network Plan’s effectiveness and the current procedures of the Oil Spill Recovery and Response Capability of Indonesia and the Philippines.

The JCG will join the said activity to guide improvement.

“They will also enhance cooperation and capability in firefighting, rescue, and oil spill recovery operations through planning, command, and control, and the conduct of integrated operations,” CG Admiral Abu added.

“Oil spill companies of the concerned countries will also be encouraged to combat, control, and recover oil spillage to accomplish the objectives of the Memorandum of Understanding on ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Cooperation Mechanism for Joint Oil Spill Preparedness and Response,” the Coast Guard Commandant pointed out.

The PCG and DGST conduct MARPOLEX every two years. In July 2019, the Philippines hosted the said maritime exercise in Davao City. By Jun I. Legaspi

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Jun I. Legaspi