P1.4-B Coast Guard Training Facility to Rise in Albay Province
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P1.4-B Coast Guard Training Facility to Rise in Albay Province. A major development is set to take place in Albay province with the construction of a PHP1.4-billion training facility for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). This facility, which will eventually become the Philippine Coast Guard Academy, marks a significant step forward in enhancing the nation’s maritime training and capabilities.
Project Announcement and Initial Funding
Coast Guard District Bicol Commander Philipps Soria announced the project during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum. According to Soria, the PCG has secured a 15-hectare lot in Bacacay town, Albay, where the training facility will be constructed. The project is currently in its initial stages, with a request made to the Department of Budget and Management for the release of an initial PHP200-million fund. This initial funding will kickstart the construction of the facility, which is expected to be a multi-year project.
“We already requested the Special Allotment Release Order from the Department of Budget and Management for the release of the initial PHP200-million fund to start the PCG training facility. It’s a multi-year project. Now we call it a training facility until such time we develop it as an academy,” Soria said.
Projected Timeline and Development
Soria mentioned that, assuming no delays in budget release, the facility is expected to be completed within five to seven years. The design and structure of the academy will be modeled after other prestigious institutions such as the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) in Cavite.
Future Aspirations and Impact
“Hopefully, the PCG Academy will be here in Albay,” Soria expressed, highlighting the vision for the academy to become a central training hub. Upon completion, the training facility in Bataan will be relocated to Albay, significantly increasing the capacity to produce trained officers, with an expected output of 300 to 400 officers per year.
Soria extended gratitude to various stakeholders, including the local government of Bacacay, Ako Bicol Party-List Rep. Elizaldy Co, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, for their unwavering support for this ambitious infrastructure project.
Enhanced Recruitment and Training
“This project will have a very good impact in terms of recruitment. For now, if you want to be a PCG officer, you must be a college graduate and a holder of professional or civil service eligibility. With this academy, it will be a four-year course of recruitment just like the PMA and PNPA. It would be from high school graduates, and they will be trained for four years,” Soria noted.
The establishment of the PCG Academy will create new opportunities for young, qualified students to join the PCG through a structured four-year scholarship program, providing a direct path from high school graduation to becoming a PCG officer.
Conclusion
The planned PHP1.4-billion Philippine Coast Guard Academy in Albay province represents a significant investment in the country maritime future. By providing a dedicated training facility modeled after esteemed military and police academies, the PCG aims to enhance its recruitment process, produce highly trained officers, and ensure a robust maritime defense force for the Philippines.