The municipal government of Larena in Siquijor and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed a memorandum of agreement May 7, aimed at strengthening maritime safety, emergency response, and public protection in the province.
The agreement, signed by PCG District Southern Visayas commander Christopher Auro and Larena Mayor Cyrus Vincent Calibo, covers the turnover and use of a newly-acquired speedboat, the allocation of space for Coast Guard personnel at the town’s fish landing port, and the donation of a 500-square-meter lot for a future provincial PCG station.
Auro said the partnership would significantly improve the Coast Guard’s capability to conduct maritime patrols, anti-illegal operations, disaster response, and other law enforcement activities at sea.
“We are very grateful to the Larena local government, especially Mayor Calibo, for allowing us the use of a brand-new speedboat for emergencies, maritime patrols, anti-illegal operations at sea, and during disasters,” he told the Philippine News Agency.
The seven-meter speedboat, powered by a 150-horsepower engine, is expected to enhance the mobility and operational readiness of Coast Guard personnel in Siquijor and nearby waters.
Auro added the vessel could also serve as a sea ambulance for patients requiring transport from Siquijor to Dumaguete City for further medical treatment and emergency care.
It could travel at nighttime when no commercial passenger vessels are available.
Under the agreement, the local government will also provide a designated space at the town fish landing port for Coast Guard personnel assigned to operate the speedboat, a move expected to reduce emergency response time.
Auro said this is the first arrangement of its kind between the Coast Guard and a local government unit in Siquijor.
He also underscored the importance of local government support in establishing Coast Guard facilities, noting that infrastructure projects and station improvements cannot proceed without formal land donations from LGUs.
The Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, which covers Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, and Siquijor under the Negros Island Region, has been encouraging local governments to donate properties for the establishment of additional Coast Guard substations to improve maritime response and mobility across the region. ||
