Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILLNo. 6251 _

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY (PCGA),
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 11 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9993,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD LAW OF 2009,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to institutionalize the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA). The PCGA
is a service-oriented, uniformed, voluntary organization. It is a non-government, non-political
organization whose membership adhere to the Philippine Coast Guard's (PCG) customs and
traditions. Its organizational structure is parallel to PCG and has its own chain of leadership and
management.!

Initially established in 1972 through Republic Act No, 5173, the PCGA’s purpose was to
assist the Philippine Coast Guard in the conduct of search and rescue and safety of boats at sea.
Thereafter, the PCGA organization eventually expanded and now officially covered under Section
11 of Republic Act Number 9993, otherwise known as the PCG Law of 2009. Its primary functions
include providing support and assistance to PCG in the promotion of safety of life and property at
sea, the preservation of the marine environment and its resources, the conduct of maritime search
and rescue, the maintenance of aids to navigation, recreational safety and such other activities that
enhance maritime community relations which include civic action, participation under the National
Service Training Program, youth development, and other related activities.”

Currently, the PCGA is headed by the National Director (ND) assisted by two deputies, the
Deputy National Director for Operations (DNDO) and the Deputy National Director for
Administration (DNDA). It has Auxiliary Districts and Squadrons under every regular Coast
Guard District in the archipelago. The PCGA has about 4000 Squadron members in 13
Districts located in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.’

The role of PCGA as an adjunct to the PCG is fully emphasized particularly during fatural
calamities. Institutionalizing the PCGA will enable the government to fully harness its po}
the citizen arm of the PCG not only during search and rescue operations but more im
achieving a safe, clean and secure marine environment for the entire Filipino people.

Immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA
Representative
2™ District, Zambales



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 8251

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE CHERYL P. DELOSO-MONTALLA

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY (PCGA),
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 11 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9993,
OTHER' [SE KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD LAW OF 2009,
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

ARTICLE I
PCGA ESTABLISHMENT AND ATTRIBUTES

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known as the “PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY ACT (PCGA)”

SEC. 2. Establishment. - The Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, as provided in Section 11
of Republic Act No. 9993, and hereinafter referred to as the PCGA, is hereby established as a
citizen armed group and uniformed service attached to the Philippine Coast Guard, hereinafter
referred to as the PCG, under the Department of Transportation (DOT): Provided, That in times
of war, as declared by Congress, the PCGA under PCG or parts thereof, shall be attached to the
Department of National Defense.

SEC. 3. The Security, Maritime, Environmental and Socioeconomic Development of the
‘State—The PCGA shall be provided maximum opportunity to participate in safeguarding the
coastline security of the State and in assisting in maritime, environmental and socioeconomic
development.

SEC. 4. Readiness. - PCGA shall be so organized, trained, developed and maintained as
to ensure their readiness to immediately respond to the call to service.

ARTICLE If
MISSION AND ORGANIZATION

SEC. 5. Mission - The PCGA shall be ready to be immediately respond to the call to service
and to assist the PCG in the promotion of safety of life and property at sea, in the preservation of
the maritime. environment and its resources, the conduet of maritime search and rescue, engage in
maritime safety activities, such as, monitoring of aids to navigation equipment and such other
activities that enhance maritime community relations which include civic action, participation
under the NSTP, youth development, recreational safety and other related activities.

SEC. 6. Organization of Auxiliary Components. — The organization of each component
of the Auxiliary Force and the manpower objective of each component shall be as prescribed by
the applicable laws on the Philippine Coast Guard. The organization, structure, manning and
equipment of auxiliary units shall conform to the organization of the Philippine Coast Guard.

SEC. 7. Auxiliary Members. — The auxiliary members, alternately referred to as
auxiliarists, who compose the Auxiliary Force are those incorporated into the Auxiliary Force in


accordance with the organization, structure, manning and equipment of the Philippine Coast
Guard. |

| ARTICLE Ti

| MANPOWER DEVELOPME!

SEC. 8. Manpower Development —

(a) Advancement. The PCG Commandant, in accordance with existing guidelines from the
Secretary of the Department of Transportation, shall prescribe the circumstances and
qualifications under which members of the Auxiliary may be advanced.

(b) Training, Examination, and Assignment. The Commandant, in accordance with existing
guidelines from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation, will prescribe the type of
training, qualifications, and examinations required before a member of the Auxiliary shall be
deemed qualified to perform certain duties and also will prescribe the circumstances and manner
in which certain members of the Auxiliary shall be authorized to perform regular and emergency
duties. |

SEC.9 Auxiliary Training —

(a) Basic Auxiliary Training. — Registrants finally selected for auxiliary training pursuant
to Section 8 hereof shall undergo a basic auxiliary training for a period of not more than one (1)
month. The PCG shall prescribe the course of instruction. The course of instruction shall include,
among others, subjects on PCG and PCGA Roles and functions, moral virtues, patriotism,
discipline, support for and adherence to the Constitution, and respect for the rights of civilians.

(b) Training Center. — There shall be established in every province at least one (1) training
center for the conduct of PCGA training. These training centers shall form part of the PCG
organization and shall be referred to as PCGA Training Centers

(©) Incorporation into Training. — Upon reporting to their assigned training centers, the
selected registrants shall be physically examined and if found fit for the service shall be inducted
into service. Where a change of training center is necessary to provide the requisite training, the
commanding officer of the training center shall be authorized to issue the necessary orders
‘covering his transportation and provide the funds for the purpose: Provided, That no registrant
shall be transferred to a training center outside his province or designated training center.

SEC. 10, Incorporation into the Auxillary Force - Elected officials and presidential
appointees may be enlisted in the Auxiliary Force subject to the existing PCG rules and regulations.
Honorary Auxiliary Members (Honorary Auxiliary Commodore) may also be provided

| ARTICLE IV
MAINTENANCE, TRAINING AND

_ ADMINISTRATION OF THE AUXILIARY FORCE
|

SEC. 11. Organization for Maintenance and Administration of the Auxiliarists. —The
PCG and PCGA, shall be responsible for the administration, training, equipage and maintenance
of their respective Auxiliarist components subject to the regulations to be prescribed by the
Secretary of a of Transportation.

SEC. 12, Accounting of Auxiliarists — All auxiliarists, shall be accounted for, their
records and status updated and present whereabouts ascertained in order to ensure their readiness
to the call to duty. As far as practicable, the services of the national and local auxiliarists will be
tapped to assist in the accounting of auxiliarists.

|

SEC. 13. Training of Individual Auxiliarists and Auxiliary Units. — Maximum
opportunity shall be afforded the auxiliarists to update their skills through compulsory or voluntary


training, Such training shall have for its principal purpose the enhancement of the readiness of the
individual auxiliarists and auxiliarists units to respond to the call to service.

SEC. 14, Auxiliarist Officers’ Non-resident Instruction. — PCG shall conduet on a
continuing basis non-resident instruction for the purpose of maintaining and updating the
proficiency of its auxiliarist officers, particularly key officers of the Auxiliary units. Such
instruction shall prepare these auxiliary officers to assume duties up to commodore command and
staff or equivalent. The Auxiliarist Officers undertaking such course shall be given priority for call
to annual duty training or service with their units or with other PCG units. Successful completion
of the non-resident course will be equivalent to having undertaken one (1) annual active duty
training tour.

SEC. 15. Active Duty Tour for Training of Auxiliary Officers. — In order to improve
their professional competence and leadership qualities auxiliary officers in the inactive status shall
be called to active duty for a period not exeeeding two (2) years without extension: Provided, That
the quota for such active duty tour shall as far as practicable be proportionately distributed to the
provinces and Mies based on their auxiliary officer population and size of the auxiliary units. An
auxiliary officer who has served his tour shall not be called again to active duty until after five (5)
years, except in case of mobilization.

| ARTICLE V
| UTILIZATION OF THE AUXILIARY FORCE

SEC. 16. Mobilization. — The utilization of the Auxiliary in times of emergency to meet
threats to national security shall be through mobilization as maybe determined by the Department
of National Defense in accordance with existing laws

SEC. 17. Auxiliary Service. — For the purpose of helping maintain local peace and order,
meeting local insurgency threat, assisting in rescue and relief operations during disasters and
calamities, health welfare activities and participating in local socioeconomic development
projects, the President may call upon the auxiliarists in the affected or concerned localities to
volunteer their services. The Secretary of National Defense shall prescribe the rules and
regulations to implement this section in coordination with the Department of Transportation and
Secretary of the Interior and Local Government.

SEC. 18. Status of Auxiliarists on Auxiliary Service. — An auxiliary performing auxiliary
service shall not receive pay but shall be entitled to receive allowances and burial benefits as
provided by law. With his consent, an auxiliarist on auxiliary service, may continue to render such
service without receiving the allowances due him.

ARTICLE VI
| APPROPRIATION

SEC. 19. Appropriation, — All appropriations previously earmarked for the
administration, development and training of the PCGA through the PCG and hereafter
appropriated for the purpose shall be used exclusively for the purpose of implementing the
provisions of this Act.

To sustain the efficient and effective administration, organization, training, maintenance
and utilization of the PCGA units and to keep them appropriately and adequately equipped and in
a state of readiness, as well as to provide for the adequate training of auxiliarists, adequate funds
for this purpose, as may be requested or recommended by the Department of Transportation, shall
be appropriated and made available on a continuing basis.

The ie fee shall utilize a portion of the Military Assistance Fund available from any
source to augment the appropriation for the Auxiliary Force.


ARTICLE VII
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

SEC. 20. Continuation and Retention of the existing PCGA Rank and Command. —
Existing PCGA four (4) unit levels, namely: National Auxiliary Main Office (NAMO), Auxiliary
District, Auxiliary Squadron and Auxiliary Division, directly under the National Director and the
two Deputies in accordance with the PCGA Manual of 2012 shall continue to operate, in rank and
‘command, until the adoption of the Internal Rules and Regulation by the PCG, subject to guidelines
set by Secretary of the Department of Transportation.

ARTICLE VII
RESCISSION AND EFFECTIVITY

SEC. 21. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations
other issuances which are inconsistent or in conflict with any provision of this Act are hereby
repealed or amended.

SEC. 22. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette.

Approved,