Department Of Transportation

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

COAST GUARD AUXILIARY DISTRICT BICOL
907th COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA SQUADRON

PCGA ORIENTATION
and
INDOCTRINATION SEMINAR
 Department Of Transportation
PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
COAST GUARD AUXILIARY DISTRICT BICOL
907th COAST GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA SQUADRON

R. A. 9993
&
PCG MANDATED FUNCTIONS
 PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was established under Republic

Act (RA) No. 5173, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 601
placing the PCG as a major unit of the Philippine Navy in preserving
our maritime sovereignty over the island.

On April 15, 1998, Executive Order No. 477 was passed providing PCG
with autonomy in its operations and realigning it from military
naval function to a civilian line function attached to the Department
of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
 PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD

On February 12, 2010, RA No. 9993 also known as the PCG Law of
2009 was approved establishing the PCG as an armed and uniformed
service attached to the DOTC, thereby repealing RA No. 5173, as
amended. The implementing rules and regulations were published
on April 19, 2011 and took effect 15 days after said publication.

The PCG has five important functions, namely: the Maritime Search
and Rescue, Maritime Security, Marine Environmental Protection,
Maritime Safety Administration and Maritime Law Enforcement.
 PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
The PCG is a line and staff organization headed by a Commandant with a rank of Admiral
and assisted by a Vice Commandant for Operations and a Vice Commandant for
Administration. The Commandant is also assisted by different staff offices whereby the
Chief of Staff takes charge in the formulation of general guidelines and the execution of
the different duties and responsibilities. Its organization consists of major units, namely:

a.Coast Guard District Offices;

b. b. Coast Guard Training Center;
c. c. Marine Environmental Protection;
d. d. Coast Guard Fleet;
e. e. Maritime Safety Service Command; and
f. f. Coast Guard Weapons, Communications, Electronics, Information System Service.
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (MAREP)
The Philippines is a signatory to IMO
Conventions on Marine Pollution of 1973 and
1978 (MARPOL 73/78).
The Philippine Coast Guard under RA 9993 is
the sole agency responsible for the
Philippine implementation of the
Conventions with regards to oil pollution,
prevention, mitigation and control through
the conduct of marine pollution monitoring
and control, enhancement of PCG capability
and oil spill response operations and
enforcement of all marine environmental
laws and regulations.
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT (MARLEN)
The PCG is likewise mandated to conduct
MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT (MARLEN)
and implement laws on fisheries (and
poaching), immigration, tariff and customs,
forestry, firearms and explosives, human
trafficking, dangerous drugs and controlled
chemicals, and to implement the revised
penal code and all other applicable laws
within the country’s maritime jurisdiction
and battle transnational crimes. 
The PCG is authorized to board and inspect all watercrafts suspected to be involved in or used in illegal
trade. PCG personnel are also deemed agents of BFAR, Immigration, Customs, DENR, PDEA, and INTERPOL
in the performance of its MARLEN function.
As a maritime organization  under RA 9993 , it is deputized by 21 government agencies to perform maritime
law enforcement functions directed towards the suppression of piracy, smuggling, poaching, illegal fishing,
illegal entry, human smuggling, illegal logging, drug trafficking, gun running and terrorist activities .
 MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SECURITY (MARSEC)
Maritime Security is another important
function of the PCG. Considering the
archipelagic character of the country, it is
vital to enhance the security of its different
maritime zones to protect the integrity as a
nation. In the performance of this function,
the PCG contributes to maintain good order
at sea by conducting regular patrols and
surveillance for the safety of navigation of
ships, to safeguard ships from illegal acts
and to promote freedom of navigation.
The PCG is likewise mandated to secure exploration and resource utilization activities within the country's
maritime jurisdiction.
In its Sea Marshal Program, the PCG manages composite security forces composed of AFP, PNP and PCG
elements to protect voyages of passenger-laden vessels in domestic routes. The Coast Guard also boasts of
a newly established nationwide K-9 unit composed of highly trained sniffing dogs deployed in the major
ports throughout the country.
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SAFETY (MARSAF)
The Philippine Coast Guard is the country’s
vanguard against the entry of unsafe foreign
vessels into the country through its Port
State Control. At present, the Philippine
Coast Guard has seven (7) PSC Centers and
fifteen (15) PSC Divisions all throughout the
archipelago. The PSC Center in Manila has
the bulk of all inspections based on
frequency of foreign ship calls.
Pursuant to RA 9993, the Philippine Coast
Guard is mandated to enforce regulations in
accordance with all relevant maritime
international conventions, treaties or
instruments of which the government is
signatory and national laws.  
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SAFETY (MARSAF)
MARITIME SAFETY or MARSAF function is
designed to help prevent or minimize
unnecessary loss of lives and properties at sea. 
The seaworthiness of every vessel leaving the
port is ensured through the intensified
Mandatory Pre-departure Inspection which
include the:
1.compliance of vessels to safety standards and
prevention of vessels from sailing for failure  to
comply with the standards;
2. conduct of random Emergency Readiness
Evaluation and Operational Readiness Evaluation
in the ports;
3.conduct of regular vessel safety inspections,
and publication of Notice to Mariners (NOTAM),
and
4. the implementation and enforcement of
navigational rules and designation of sea lanes,
among others. 
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SAFETY (MARSAF)
Further, the PCG is also responsible in issuing
permits and supervises all marine salvage
operations. It is mandated to destroy or tow
floating hazards to navigation such as, but
not limited to illegal fish traps and vessels.

Moreover, navigational safety is ensured by

operating and/or maintaining and servicing
565 lighthouses and more than 44
navigational buoys around the country
which guide and ensures safe voyage to
mariners.
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SAFE AND RESCUE (MARSAR)
The Philippine Coast Guard, in accordance with
the Convention of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),
is the national maritime search and rescue
service of the country.

The Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) at the PCG

Headquarters in Manila, by virtue of the current
functions and facilities, serves as the
coordinating centers for all search and rescue
operations.
The thirteen Coast Guard Districts are designated
as Maritime Rescue Coordinating Council (MRCC)
within their areas of responsibility while the 59
Coast Guard Stations are designated as Maritime
Rescue Sub-Centers (MRSC). The detachments
under these stations are designated as SAR units.
MANDATED FUNCTIONS
MARITIME SAFE AND RESCUE (MARSAF)
The PCG’s SAR organization maintains
constantly-manned watch centers that
operate 24 hours a day, continuously
monitoring distress frequencies and
conducting coastal foot and seaborne patrol
within their area of responsibility.
There is at least one division or squadron of
Coast Guard Auxiliary in each MRSC where
watch can be set and assistance can be
obtained when required. Likewise, at least
one Deployable Response Team composed
of Special Operations Group, Medical Team,
K-9 and rescue swimmers is organized at
each Coast Guard District or MRCC which can
be dispatched immediately to any maritime
and land base search and rescue operations.
Thank You!