PCG activates Auxiliary District in West PH Sea’s Kalayaan Island Group

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday activated the Coast Guard Auxiliary District in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), boosting its presence in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The activation of the Auxiliary District complements the establishment of the Coast Guard in the KIG, which will increase its presence for faster response, sustained operations, and coordination with the local government and other concerned agencies, the PCG said.

The PCG on Wednesday also held a donning and oath-taking ceremony for new members of the PCG Auxiliary, led by PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan on Pag-asa Island.

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The KIG in Palawan comprises several key marine features in the Spratly Islands, where confrontations with Chinese vessels occur amid the WPS dispute with China.

“The activation of the Auxiliary District here in Pag-asa means that the civilians of Kalayaan now stand shoulder to shoulder with your Coast Guard,” Gavan said in a statement issued by the PCG.

He added: “Volunteerism is not only about responding to emergencies; it is also about showing the world that Filipinos live here, serve here, and will continue to protect what is rightfully ours.”

He also awarded personnel who responded to a suspected dynamite-fishing incident about 3 nautical miles west of Pag-asa Island in the Philippine Sea on Oct. 4. /das

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