DAVAO CITY Aug. 29- The Coast Watch Stations (CWS) set up across southern and central Mindanao has greatly improved the Navy’s capability in maritime security and safety.
According to Captain Robert Empedrad Deputy Commander of the Philippine Navy Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, the past year have seen the Navy interdict suspicious vessels and seacraft aside from rescuing three to four vessels with the help of the CWS.
Empedrad said that coast watch stations helps the navy preserve its assets from wear and tear. He said that navy ships usually have 20-40 natical miles radar coverage while on sea, instead of conducting intensive sea patrols CWS with its radars can monitor suspicious seaborne movements and relay these findings to the coast watch center at the Felix Apolinario Naval Station in Panacan Davao City which will in turn feed the data to the nearest navy vessels that will in turn interdict the targets.
Lieutenant Commander JulienDolor, Coast Watch Area Director Eastern Mindanao said that coast watch stations are equipped with radars along with Automated Identification System (AIS) to identify vessels and modern communication equipment.
Dolor said that CWS radars can cover 80 nautical miles of coast. The Eastern Mindanao Coast Watch center has six CWS one in Calamansig Sultan Kudarat, three CWS in Sarangani Province (Maitum, Maasim and Glan), one inBalut Island, Davao del Sur and a CWS in Cape San Agustin Davao Oriental. The Regional Command Center is in the Naval Station in Panacan.
“These CWS were established in traditional and busy marine routes.” There are two Coast Watch Centers, Central Mindanao and Eastern Mindanao, Dolor said, he added that each Coast Watch Station costs around P100-million each.
Empedrad said that the CWS are part of the initiatives in improving the Navy’s capabilities, he said that the CWS can be further upgraded particularly it can be linked to the country’s Air Defense system to detect airborne intrusions.
He said that PresidentBenigno Aquino III is very interested in the modernization of the armed forces particularly the navy. This year the country is expecting its second Weather High Endurance Cutter (WHEC) from the United States. It is also eyeing to buy two Italian frigates to beef up its territorial defense capability.
Meanwhile To enhance the capability of the CWS, the Philippine Navy will launch the Coast Watch System Capability Exercises in Davao City this September 3-7. It will be participated by two Philippine Navy vessels, two aircraft and four speedboats. It will also involve the participation of 31 representatives from different government agencies and local government units. (PIA 11/RG Alama)
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