MANILA, Philippines — A P5.5-billion budget infusion is expected to enhance the capability of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to guard disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea.

Rear Admiral Edmund Tan, Coast Guard commandant, Friday said that aside from the P1.6 billion funds from national government, the agency will be receiving a P3.9-billion allocation from the Malampaya Natural and Gas Project.

That will enable the Coast Guard to repair at least three of its vessels that will be used for patrolling the disputed areas, Tan said.

As of the moment, only the BRP EDSA (SARV-002) has been deployed to the West Philippine Sea.

“Instead of using the money to buy brand new ships, which could take two years, we will just repair our existing vessels,” Tan said.

Two of the PCG’s ships, the BRP-San Juan (SARV-001) and BRP Batangas (SARV-004), need to have their propellers fixed.

The Batangas reportedly damaged its propeller when it ran aground in Tubbataha Reef while on patrol there last year.

The estimated cost to repair the two vessels might amount to P78 million, Tan said.

Another P35 million will go to overhauling the engine of BRP-Davao del Norte (SARV-3504), a 35-meter search and rescue vessel.

Tan said part of the donation from Malampaya would be used to buy fuel for the vessels.

Six countries – China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines – are staking claims in the potentially oil and gas rich area.

President Benigno S. Aquino ordered the Coast Guard to deploy ships in the area after the M/V Venture, a survey ship contracted by the Department of Energy (DOE), was allegedly harassed by two Chinese navy gunboats off the disputed Spratly Islands on March 2, 2011 near the Recto Bank.

The region is within the country’s 320-kilometer exclusive economic zone, but the area is also being claimed by China and Vietnam.

Transportation Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Friday the budget was “expressly ordered” by President Aquino. “It will go to the acquisition of assets and equipment such as ships, platforms, aircrafts, and air surveillance so that in the event our citizens are placed in a situation of danger while travelling the high seas, or within our inland waters, the Coast Guard can respond with the fast search, rescue and evacuation measures,” Roxas said.

The Coast Guard is under the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Roxas said the acquisition of new equipment and technology to modernize the PCG will go through a strict bidding process, as per World Bank specifications, to ensure “best value”.

“We’re still waiting for the relevant data from the World Bank, from which the funds will be sourced,” he said.

“Some of the data we requested include, among others, the naval capabilities being utilized in Indonesia and Thailand. These are archipelagic and tropical countries just like the Philippines. We’d like to learn more from their experiences patrolling their waters while ensuring the safety and comfort of their maritime travelling citizens,” he said.