Tarriela to Congress: More PCG patrol vessels needed for West PH Sea

Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela holds a press briefing on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Manila. — File photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Congress could help the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ensure the safety of Filipino fisherfolk in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) by helping the agency acquire more 97-meter multirole response vessels similar to BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701).

PCG spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Jay Tarriela made the pronouncement in a discussion following the free screening of the “Food Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea” documentary in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

READ: PCG to procure 5 patrol vessels; first ship to arrive in 2027

“If there is one thing the Congress can provide the Philippine Coast Guard, that would be more vessels to make sure that the coast guard is there to ensure that Filipino fisherfolk will not be harassed,” Tarriela said partly in Filipino.

According to the PCG official, they received many testimonies from fishermen from Zambales, Pangasinan, Mindoro, and Palawan, saying that the Chinese Coast Guard “hesitates” to harass and bully them when Philippine authorities are present where they fish.

Tarriela revealed that the PCG only has two multirole response vessels as big as BRP Teresa Magbanua, manufactured by Japan, and the other one is BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702).

Although the procurement of five more patrol vessels is already underway, Tarriela said they may not be enough to ensure the safety of fisherfolk from Batanes down to Palawan.

“What we’re only doing right now is we are strategically deploying our vessels in those areas where we monitor a high number of fishermen. That’s the reason why BRP Teresa Magbanua was there (Bajo de Masinloc) during the filming because we know that it is a traditional fishing ground for Filipino fishermen,” he revealed.

“The question is how we can be there on the right time if we lack coast guard vessels,” he further said.

In April this year, PCG commandant, Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, announced that the first of the five ships is set to arrive in late 2027. /das