Navy to start Coast Watch project before yearend to battle transnational criminals and terrorists

By Ronron
September 25, 2007

The Philippine Navy will start later this year its Coast Watch project that will be implemented from Palawan to Davao in the hope of preventing sea-borne crimes, both local and transnational, and terrorism, officials said Tuesday.

In a phone interview with Defense reporters, Lt. Commander Jorge Ibarra, chief of the International Affairs of the Office of the Deputy Navy Chief for Plans, said they are just awaiting the Executive Order from Malacanang that will define the respective roles of the Navy and other maritime agencies like the Coast Guard, Maritime Police, the Customs and Immigration in the implementation of the project.

But even before an EO is released, Ibarra said the involved agencies will already begin holding workshops next week at the Navy headquarters in Manila City as to how the project will be carried out.

"The Coast Watch South stations would enhance the Philippine Navy's capability to conduct surveillance and interdiction against various threats that are taking advantage of our porous borders," Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. said in a recent speech.

“Our southern backdoor is especially prone to the incursion of terrorists, smugglers, pirates, and traffickers of firearms and explosives. It is also used as a transshipment point of illegal drugs,” he added.

According to Ibarra, 17 Coast Watch stations, all worth up to P17 billion, will bet set up under the project. He said N-Shore Patrol vessels, patrol gunboats and rigid-hull inflatable boats will be bought by the Navy for use in the 17 stations.

Navy spokesman Giovanni Carlo Bacordo said the 17 stations would stretch from Mangsi Island off Palawan province to the coasts of Davao provinces in the eastern part of Mindanao, forming a U-shaped "barrier."

Ibarra said the N-Shore Patrol vessel and gunboats will be utilized in patrolling the waters within a 12-nautical mile radius, while the rigid-hull inflatable boats will be used near the coastlines.

“Once we monitor unusual movement, we can intercept them immediately,” Ibarra said of the project. “We will be monitoring all illegal activities.”

Ibarra said helicopters will also provide support to the sea patrols, in coordination with land-based stations. "There will be a triad, with a sea, land, and air component.”

The Coast Watch South project was introduced last year by then Navy Chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga, after getting a briefing about the same project that is being implemented in Australia./DMS