The BRP Teresa Magbanua. (Photo courtesy of PCG) MANILA - The newest vessel in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) fleet, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, will be used to patrol the West Philippine Sea (WPS) once it returns from the Regional Marine Pollution Exercise (Marpolex) 2022 in Indonesia. In a Laging Handa briefing on Wednesday, PCG Rear Admiral Bobby Patrimonio, commander of the PCG Marine Environmental Protection Command, said the vessel will be used in "sovereign patrol" and will boost the country's maritime border security. "[PCG] Admiral Artemio Abu ay nagbigay ng directives sa ating mga barko na magpatrolya ulit sa WPS, sa Benham Rise (Abu gave directives to our vessels to once again patrol the WPS, Benham Rise)," Patrimonio said. In addition, he said BRP Teresa Magbanua will be ready to transport goods and people in the event of a maritime incident or any other disaster. To date, BRP Teresa Magbanua and several other PCG vessels are in transit to Makassar, I
One of the newly installed buoys on the West Philippine Sea. (Photo courtesy of PCG) MANILA - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday completed the installation of five buoys on four different islands in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to mark the country's territorial waters and to guide mariners passing through the areas. In a Laging Handa briefing, PCG Rear Admiral Bobby Patrimonio, commander of the PCG Marine Environmental Protection Command, said one buoy was installed on Likas Island, another on Parola Island, one on Lawak Island, and two on Pag-asa Island. "These are sovereign markers of our country, but ang pinaka-intention lang is to guide our seafarers navigating in that area para magkaroon ng ligtas na paglalayag (but its main intention is to guide our seafarers navigating in that area to ensure safe voyage)," Patrimonio said. He noted that the buoys would also be a big help to fishermen as the areas they mark are particularly abundant with fish. In a media