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Senate boosts PCG budget for new vessels, stronger WPS patrols

Philippine News Agency

By Wilnard Bacelonia
November 27, 2025, 4:44 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to acquire additional vessels and equipment to strengthen its presence in the West Philippine Sea after the Senate augmented the agency's 2026 budget by PHP8.6 billion, transportation officials said during budget deliberations on Thursday.

Senator JV Ejercito, sponsor of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) budget, said the augmentation would allow the PCG to procure new vessels, including a 97-meter multi-role response vessel (MRV) from Japan and three 87-meter vessels to expand the country's maritime patrol capability.

The PCG will also receive around 40 aluminum boats for search-and-rescue operations, especially during typhoons and other calamities.

"Actually... they concentrated more on the multi-role vessels... And then three more 87 meters... Ang target nila (their target) is about five of these in the coming years," Ejercito said.

He added that while the Philippines does not expect to match China's large coast guard fleet, the goal is to build "a respectable Coast Guard fleet in the next coming years."

Responding to Senator Risa Hontiveros' question on whether the augmentation includes the purchase of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), Ejercito clarified that "there is no unmanned vessel on the list."

Hontiveros noted that her office received a request from the PCG for USVs and said she would forward the letter to the committee, adding that such assets "are a necessity in protecting our territory."

Ejercito also confirmed that the vessel acquisition will involve both foreign and domestic construction.

"Yung pong (The) 97 meters will be from Japan. And then the others will be a joint venture with Austal. And one will be constructed in Cebu," he said, describing the move as supportive of efforts to strengthen the country's self-reliant defense posture.

Hontiveros said she welcomed the additional support for the PCG, calling the fleet expansion "much-needed and well-deserved," particularly given the Coast Guard's frontline role in asserting Philippine rights in the West Philippine Sea.

The strengthened PCG budget comes amid heightened maritime tensions and forms part of the government's broader efforts to enhance maritime domain awareness and operational presence in the West Philippine Sea. (PNA)