The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has commissioned into the Coast Guard service its newest aerial asset, the multi-role fixed-wing aircraft, Cessna Caravan 208 at the Port of Puerto Princesa in Palawan today, 04 November 2021.
The said aerial asset, PCG 2081 will be utilized by the Coast Guard Aviation Force (CGAF) during surveillance and humanitarian missions in far-flung coastal communities and vicinity waters across the country. With a passenger capacity of 14 occupants, the PCG 2081 can adapt to a wide variety of missions through its powerful turboprop engine, improved graphical interface, powerful hardware, higher resolution display, and added functionality for situational awareness.
Through the support of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, the national government allocated Php 250 million under the General Appropriations Act (GAA) FY 2019 for the procurement of the said aircraft that was part of the PCG’s Modernization Program.
On 30 December 2020, the Notice of Award (NOA) was given to Jet Aviation and one day later, the contract was released and signed. It was then notarized on 18 February 2021 and on 26 February 2021, the Notice to Proceed (NTP) was signed and handed over to Jet Aviation. The manufacturing of the aircraft began on 29 June 2021.
Jet Aviation accepted the Cessna Caravan 208 from Textron Aviation Factory in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Also part of the procurement package was the comprehensive training of four PCG pilots and six flight crew at the Textron Aviation Factory so they could efficiently operate and effectively maintain the said aircraft.
On 10 August 2021, the PCG 2081 finally arrived in Manila. It then underwent a series of test flights starting on 10 September 2021 and on 14 October 2021, the said aircraft smoothly passed all flight parameters – completing the procurement process.
PCG Commandant, CG Vice Admiral Leopoldo V Laroya said the PCG 2081 will be mainly utilized in the conduct of search and rescue (SAR) missions, aeromedical evacuations, as well as maritime patrol and surveillance operations in the West Philippine Sea, Kalayaan Island Group, and Southern Philippines.
It will also take part in the safe and swift transport of COVID-19 vaccines in far-flung coastal communities in support of the inoculation drive of the national government amid the global pandemic.
Moreover, the PCG has formally inaugurated the new Coast Guard Station Kalayaan located in Pag-asa Island, Kalayaan, Palawan.
In partnership with PCG Auxiliary (PCGA), the PCG upgraded the said station to improve the living condition of Coast Guard personnel deployed in Pag-asa Island and to boost the PCG’s monitoring capabilities in support of the whole-of-government efforts in the West Philippine Sea, as it will serve as the operations headquarters in the area.
Despite the unpredictable weather and sea conditions during loading, unloading, and ship-to-shore operations from Manila to Pag-asa Island, the Coast Guard Station Kalayaan was completed in just 30 days or from 11 July to 11 August 2021.
The PCGA donated four brand new units of modular pre-fabricated containers that served as the main structures of the station, as well as Php 683,945 worth of construction materials for the said infrastructure project.
DOTr Secretary Tugade congratulated the PCG for accomplishing significant milestones on modernization despite non-stop operations to uphold the health and safety of Filipinos amid the ongoing pandemic.
“When we talk about providing comfort and convenience to the Filipino people, we mean giving them an improved quality of life. Kung maayos at napakikinabangan ang mga imprastruktura sa lalawigan, kung may mga inisyatibo na magbabantay at magpo-protekta sa seguridad ng mamamayan, magbubunga ito ng trabaho, ng pamumuhunan, at ng pagsigla ng ekonomiya,” Secretary Tugade said.
“This is how we fulfill the marching order of our beloved President to provide the Filipino people a comfortable and convenient life,” he concluded.