The joint Bicameral Conference Committee of Congress has approved Senate Bill 3389, also known as the Philippine Coast Guard Act of 2009, which places the Philippine Coast Guard as a “uniformed and armed service” under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC).

PCG Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo applauded the action made by both houses of Congress as it strengthens their authority as a law enforcement agency.

“The approval of the PCG Bill capped our long aspiration of having a new law after the Coast Guard’s transfer from Philippine Navy-Armed Forces of the Philippines (in 1998) to the DoTC,” Tamayo said in his statement.

Tamayo said with the approval of this bill, the PCG will be given more powers and authority in implementing law especially on maritime safety. “We will have more authority to perform our premier mandate which was lacking in our past and recent operations kasi before, kami nga ang masasabing primary responsible for the safety ng mga passengers pero we lacked powers. So with clear authority now particularly in maritime safety and law enforcement and environmental protection, that also give us capability for development,” Tamayo noted.

The PCG Commandant also said that before the approval of the bill, the Coast Guard only relied on the memorandum of agreement they made with shipping line owners concerning vessel safety. Now that the PCG is clearly a law enforcement agency, they may impose official guidelines on the safety of passengers, Tamayo said.

Meanwhile, Coast Guard Spokesman Lt. Commander Armand Balilo said the whole Coast Guard community is very optimistic that President Arroyo will sign the bill before the year ends.

“It will definitely boost the moral of all our officers and personnel especially when the President finally sign it into law,” Balilo said.

Tamayo said the approval of the bill was a milestone in the PCG’s struggle for recognition in the past years. “It is also a triumph of the PCG’s struggle for recognition of its indispensible role as our country’s 24/7 maritime guardians which is envisioned to strengthened the performance of our roles in maritime search and rescue and other important matter such as marine environmental protection and maritime law enforcement & security,” Tamayo said.