The US government provides a P250 million training facility to PCG.

The Specialized Education and Technical Building in Balagtas, Bulacan, includes 16 classrooms and lab spaces for up to 200 students. The facility will mimic classroom and hands-on courses in vessel operations and engineering that are now attended by over 250 PCG students in the United States. Since 2017, Coast Guard facilities have been closed.

The structure is the third phase of a training center development program supported in part by the United States. Department of State, Department of Defense, and U.S. Global Security Contingency Fund.

“This building, and the training it will facilitate, mark an important advance in the Philippine Coast Guard’s ability to safely operate and maintain PCG assets that preserve maritime safety, protect the marine environment, enforce maritime laws, and defend Philippine sovereign rights in the waters around the Philippines, including in the West Philippine Sea,” Ambassador Carlson said in her remarks.  “The United States stands with the Coast Guard as you defend Philippine sovereign rights and uphold the rules-based international order.”

“The building serves as an important instrument for the enhancement of the capabilities of our PCG sailors,” Vice Admiral Gavan said.  “This facility will henceforth be the foundation of this oldest coast guard in this part of the world, to serve as an inspiration of excellence in this region.”

Over the following two years, the US Coast Guard and the PCG will continue to expand their collaboration by providing a variety of course offerings.