The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has received 13 generator sets from the government of Japan to boost its maritime operations and disaster response capabilities.
The equipment was formally turned over at the Coast Guard National Headquarters in Manila, in a ceremony attended by Japanese Embassy Minister Naobumi Yokota and Rear Adm. Rommel Supangan, commander of the Marine Environmental Protection Command (MEPCOM).
Supangan, representing PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that it reflects the continued maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.
According to the PCG, the generators will support daily port operations and serve as backup power sources during emergencies:
“Beyond daily port operations, these units will serve as critical assets during emergency operations—providing power where local grids are limited, supporting disaster relief efforts during outages, and ensuring operational capability via contingency deployments in remote regions.”
The equipment was provided through the Japan Grant Aid Program, which funds infrastructure and equipment support for partner countries. Yokota emphasized that reliable power supply would ease operational strain on Coast Guard personnel:
“A stable shore power supply would significantly alleviate the ‘maintenance burden’ on Coast Guard personnel. It will allow them to better protect lives and ensure safety at sea.”
The PCG confirmed that the generator sets have already been distributed to several districts nationwide. The donation forms part of broader maritime cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, which has included support for vessels, surveillance systems, training programs, and maritime infrastructure.