MANILA – The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement announced new funding in the amount of Php450 million (USD8 million) for the modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The announcement was shared by the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines and was revealed during the third Maritime Dialogue between the United States and the Philippines on Thursday (Oct. 24) in Manila, where the two sides underscored their shared commitment to strengthen compliance with international law, as reflected in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
According to the U.S. Embassy, “the funding will support the PCG’s infrastructure enhancements, training program development, and resource acquisition and management planning.”
During the Dialogue, both sides discussed deepening cooperation on maritime law enforcement, including capacity building of the PCG; addressing the impact of climate change and sea level rise; and countering illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUUF).
Also, both sides discussed ways on how to jointly address the current challenges and shared maritime concerns, particularly the situation in the South China Sea.
“Led by Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis Alferez and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin, the delegates reviewed ongoing cooperative efforts and discussed ways for the two sides to jointly address current challenges and shared maritime concerns, particularly in the South China Sea,” the U.S. Embassy mentioned.
Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for Maritime and Ocean Affairs Marshall Louis M. Alferez (left) and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Mahlet Mesfin (right) lead the third Philippines-U.S. Maritime Dialogue on October 24 in Manila. (Photo and caption courtesy of U.S. Embassy in the Philippines)
Representatives from the defense, justice, foreign affairs, security, fisheries, environment, and law enforcement agencies of both sides participated in the discussion, including Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Assistant Secretary for American Affairs Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary for Maritime Julius Yano, Philippine National Security Council Assistant Director General Francis Jude Lauengco, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, and U.S. Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary Brandon Yoder.
The U.S. and Philippine governments decided to convene the Maritime Dialogue at the 11th Philippines-United States Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C., in April 2024 to build upon the outcomes of prior dialogues and exchanges, the U.S. Embassy stated.
