Philippine coastguard battles funding cuts amid bigger South China Sea role
Ronnie Gil Gavan says his agency is functioning at almost ‘90 per cent operational tempo’, leaving a very short time between overhauls
The proposed overhaul comes as the coastguard is being stretched by increasingly demanding operations around Philippine-claimed waters, while funding constraints threaten to limit its ability to keep its existing assets at sea.
That tension is evident in the 2027 budget. The coastguard has sought funding for more vessels, unmanned systems, stations and personnel, while key allocations for patrols, intelligence and ship maintenance face cuts.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) currently has a fleet of about 40 vessels, according to Coast Guard chief Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, who said in June that the agency planned to add more than 40 vessels over the following five years.
