President Aquino signed Executive Order (EO) 57 on Sept. 6 that created the National Coast Watch System (NCWS).
He signed the EO after a five-day visit to China.

The NCWS was an initiative of the Department of National Defense (DND) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. said.

Ochoa, who heads the Cabinet security cluster, said NCWS would serve as the “central inter-agency mechanism for a more coordinated approach on maritime issues and maritime security operations to enhance governance of the country’s maritime domain.”

The new EO harmonizes the policies, programs and activities on intelligence work, border control, interdiction and law enforcement of several government agencies such as the Philippine Navy, the Philippine Coast Guard and the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, among others, for better maritime governance, Ochoa said.

Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama said this would boost their cooperation with agencies that oversee the country’s borders. Pama said a monitoring system has been established in the south. He said efforts are underway to prepare for the establishment of the radar systems.

Under EO 57, the National Coast Watch Council (NCWC) would be established and chaired by Ochoa, with the secretaries of the DND and the Departments of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Justice (DOJ), Energy (DOE), Finance (DOF), Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Agriculture (DA) as members.

As the central inter-agency body, the NCWC will be in charge of formulating strategic direction and policy guidance for the NCWS, specifically on maritime security operations and multinational and cross-border cooperation on maritime security. The Council will also take over the mandate and functions of the CMOA.

A National Coast Watch Center, headed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), shall be established under EO 57 to implement and coordinate maritime security operations in accordance with the strategic direction and policy guidance to be issued by the council.

The PCG, Navy, the PNP-Maritime Group, National Prosecution Service of the DOJ, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime shall provide manpower, equipment and material support to the National Coast Watch Center.

The initial funding of P20 million for the NCWS will come from the special account in the General Fund of the DOE, and thereafter be incorporated in the General Appropriations Act for funding.

EO 57, however, allows the council and the center to accept donations, contributions or grants from domestic or foreign sources subject to government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

Inquirer