HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._7985

Introduced by Hon. KRISTINE ALEXIE BESAS TUTOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Our country needs a Philippine Coast Guard fit for the 21 Century.

Enforcement of our maritime laws can be more effective with the gradual addition
of PCG field offices, bases, and facilities at a pace that is prudent and realistically
affordable through the national budget and official development assistance.

Itis also time for the country to deploy and operate microsatellites, smart buoys, and
unmanned drones.

These steps would enable the PCG to expand and deepen its coverage at strategic
locations nationwide.

These solutions are contained in this bill seeking the amendment of Republic Act
9993 also known as the Philippines Coast Guard Act of 2009.

This bill gives the mandate to the Department of Transportation, in collaboration
with the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Information and
Communication Technology, Department of National Defense, and the Philippine
Space Agency, to cause the creation, deployment, management, and operation of
maritime microsatellites for specific multiple-purpose mission tasking
consistent with the missions, roles, powers, and functions of the Philippine Coast
Guard. The Department of Transportation may commission through open,
transparent, and full-disclosure international bidding consistent with procurement
laws, the creation, deployment, management, and operation of the maritime
microsatellites.

The bill provides that each of the following islands and islands groups shall have at
least two Coast Guard bases, each with a basic complement of resources in terms of
personnel, vessels, equipment, and support services to be determined by the
Secretary of Transportation, upon recommendation of the PCG Admiral, and in
consultation with the Civil Service Commission, Department of Budget and
Management and the Department of Information and Communication Technology.
The major islands and island groups are enumerated as follows:

1. the Batanes group of Islands;
2. the Kalayaan Island Group;
3. the Tawi-Tawi Islands;

4, the Basilan Islands;

5. the Dinagat Islands;


6. the Polilio Islands;

7. Catanduanes Island;

8. Samar Island;

9. Leyte Island;

10. Bohol Island Province;

11. Guimaras Island Province;

12. Occidental Mindoro and adjacent islands;
13. Oriental Mindoro and adjacent islands;
14. Panay Island;

15. Siquijor Island;

16. Marinduque Island Province;

17. Romblon Island Province;

18. Masbate Island Province; and

19. Camiguin Island Province.

The bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to approve the Basic Complement
of Coast Guard Resources Program of the major islands and island groups. The
approved program shall explicitly state the pace and phasing-in of the resources
upgrades, cognizant of appropriations constraints and available official development
assistance. The Program shall include, but not be limited to:

1. coast guard personnel to man each base and crew every patrol vessel
assigned to each base;

2. civilian professionals and specialists in the fields of marine engineering,
meteorology, electronics and communications engincering, _ satellite
communications technology; marine biology, oceanography, and disaster
preparedness and response;

3. patrol vessels for maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement
operations;

4. unmanned drones for aerial, sea surface, and underwater patrols and
interdiction; and

5. remotely-accessible electronically smart buoys for multiple purpose
mission tasking.

Given the urgent necessity, swift passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

KRISTINE abt BESAS TUTOR

Representative, 3 District, Bohol


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BrLt.No, 7965

Introduced by: Hon. KRISTINE ALEXIE BESAS TUTOR

AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 9993, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PHILIPPINES
COASTGUARD ACT OF 2009, INSTITUTIONALIZING RESOURCES AND
TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES, PROVIDING APPROPRIATIONS
THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Section 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be “The Philippine Coast Guard
Upgrade and Advancement Act of 2020”.

Section 2. Amendment of Republic Act 9993. A new Section 24 is hereby
included in Republic Act 9993 stating as follows:

Sec. 24. Major Islands and Basic Complement of Coast Guard
Resources. Each of the following islands and islands groups shall have at
least two Coast Guard bases, each with a basic complement of resources in
terms of personnel, vessels, equipment, and support services to be
determined by the Secretary of Transportation, upon recommendation of the
PCG Admiral, and in consultation with the Civil Service Commission,
Department of Budget and Management and the Department of Information
and Communication Technology. The major islands and island groups for
purposes of this Act are:

1. the Batanes group of Islands;

2. the Kalayaan Island Group;

gh the Tawi-Tawi Islands;

4. the Basilan Islands;

5. the Dinagat Islands;

6. the Polilio Islands;

i Catanduanes Island;

8. Samar Island;

9. Leyte Island;

10. Bohol Island Province;

11 Guimaras Island Province;

12. Occidental Mindoro and adjacent islands;
13. Oriental Mindoro and adjacent islands;
14. Panay Island;

15. Siquijor Island;

16.  Marinduque Island Province;

17. Romblon Island Province;


24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
a2
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
SI
52
53

18. Masbate Island Province; and
19. Camiguin Island Province.

The Secretary of Transportation shall approve the Basic Complement of
Coast Guard Resources Program of the major islands and island groups. The
approved program shall explicitly state the pace and phasing-in of the
resources upgrades, cognizant of appropriations constraints and available
official development assistance. The Program shall include, but not be
limited to:

1. coast guard personnel to man each base and crew every patrol
vessel assigned to each base;

2. civilian professionals and specialists in the fields of marine
engineering, meteorology, electronics and communications
engineering, satellite communications technology; marine biology,
oceanography, and disaster preparedness and response;

3. patrol vessels for maritime security, search and rescue, and law
enforcement operations;

4, unmanned drones for aerial, sea surface, and underwater patrols
and interdiction; and

5. remotely-accessible electronically smart buoys for multiple
purpose mission tasking

Section 3. Use of Satellite Technology. A new Section 25 is hereby included in
Republic Act 9993 stating as follows:

Sec. 25. Maritime Microsatellites. The Department of Transportation, in
collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, the
Department of Information and Communication Technology, Department of
National Defense, and the Philippine Space Agency, shall cause the creation,
deployment, management, and operation of maritime microsatellites for
specific multiple-purpose mission tasking consistent with the missions, roles,
powers, and functions of the Philippine Coast Guard. The Department of
Transportation may commission through open, transparent, and full-
disclosure international bidding consistent with procurement laws, the
creation, deployment, management, and operation of the maritime
microsatellites.

Section 4. Period of Implementation. The resources and technology upgrade of
the Philippine Coast Guard provided under this Act shall be implemented over a
period not exceeding three (3) years after its effectivity: Provided, however, that
payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred
under this Act may extend beyond this period.

Section 5. Renumbering of Provisions. The affected provisions of R.A. 9993 are
hereby renumbered accordingly.

Section 6. Appropriations. Funding to implement this Act shall be sourced from
annual appropriations, government bonds, concessional grants and technical
assistance from local and foreign sources, and foreign loans. Implementation of
projects requiring multi-year funding may be done in phases as may be deemed
necessary.


aAuaAune

Section 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. All implementing rules and
regulations necessary to enforce this Act must be issued and in effect not later than
ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.

Section 8. Effectivity. This Act shall take place fifteen (15) days after publication
in two newspapers of national general circulation.

Approved,