PCG activates district in KIG

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April 10, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  The Philippines officially activated yesterday a new Coast Guard Command in the Kalayaan Island Group.

According to PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea issues, Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela, the unit upgrade on the island to a command district will advance PCG’s deployment of personnel and assets in KIG, while supporting the needs of residents.

“This milestone strengthens not only maritime governance but also the Philippine Coast Guard’s commitment to holistic service and nation-building in the Kalayaan Island Group,” Tarriela said.

PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez and Sen. Erwin Tulfo also joined Tarriela in the ceremony.

Now as a major Coast Guard District, the command post will be overseen by a commodore to ensure mature, experienced leadership with a strong strategic understanding of Coast Guard operations in the area.

Operationally controlled assets, such as PCG vessels and aircraft, will be deployed to the district, performing not just maritime security roles, but also maritime safety operations, including search and rescue and maritime environmental protection.

Tarriela said additional buildings on other occupied maritime features within KIG will be constructed.

“The district will likewise receive enhanced logistical support and increased operational funding to carry out more significant operations across its area of responsibility,” Tarriela added.

Officers and non-commissioned personnel from various technical services will also be deployed to address the essential services needed by the Kalayaan local government, including teacher shortages, health care, and spiritual and religious needs.

The elevation into a major district is aimed to boost PCG’s iCare program that underscores community assistance, awareness and transparency and response and enforcement, according to Tarriela.

Gavan noted that the presence of the new PCG Coast Guard District in the Kalayaan Island Group will serve as the “beacon of sovereignty and sanctuary for the Filipino people,” while Lopez said the simultaneous activation of the new district on the Day of Valor is the government’s way of showing its full support and recognition of the valuable sacrifices of PCG personnel.

Tulfo for his part promised to the residents that he will push for budget to repair their municipal hall, as well as construct a recreation building for soldiers and civilians there for games or karaoke using this year’s national outlay.

Chinese flares

PCG on Thursday reported that Chinese forces fired direct flares at a Philippine aircraft during maritime domain awareness flights over Panganiban and Zamora Reefs.

Tarriela also said China issued radio transmissions asserting “indisputable sovereignty” over the two Chinese-occupied features within the area.

“These reckless and aggressive actions by China represent yet another escalation in their campaign of intimidation and harassment,” Tarriela said.

Aside from violating international aviation safety norms and regional peace, Tarriela stressed Beijing has endangered the aircraft personnel on board.

Earlier, the PCG spokesman noted three radio challenges from China as the delegation’s aircraft made its way to Pag-asa Island for the command activation ceremony.

Philippine terms must prevail

Retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio called on the Marcos administration to uphold the ownership of the Philippines of oil and gas following the President’s recent declaration that the country might enter into a deal for a joint exploration with China.

In a forum organized by Akbayan Party-list Thursday, Carpio maintained any effort for joint oil and gas development project by the Philippines should be carried out “under the service contract system of the Philippines.”

“The two essential provisions in any agreement with China should be, one, the oil and gas belong to the Philippines. Number two, the contract will be governed by Philippine law,” he said, as cited in a report by ABS-CBN News.

Carpio also warned that China might once against assert its ownership of resources particularly within the South China Sea should it make an agreement on joint oil and gas exploration with the Philippines.?“We cannot agree to joint development because that is our EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” he said. “The moment you accept China’s joint development concept, you agree that China owns the oil and gas, so no country has accepted China’s joint development concept, and we should not.” – Josiah Antonio, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Ghio Ong