455 recruits join PH Coast Guard

Over 400 newlyenlisted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel took their oath of service Wednesday.

A total of 455 newlyenlisted Coast Guard personnel took oath before Rear Admiral Elson Hermogino, PCG commandant, during the ceremony held at the PCG National Headquarters at the South Harbor in Manila.

Hermogino congratulated the new PCG personnel and enjoined them to embody courage, friendship, loyalty, solidarity, and love for one another.

He added that the new Coast Guard personnel are “fortunate enough not only because of the doubled salary but also being part of organization which is currently undergoing a modest modernization program in various infrastructure facilities where some of them will be deployed.”

The PCG commandant said that upon assuming post that the marching order he received from the President is to pursue the modernization of the Coast Guard.

“The marching order of the President is to pursue the modernization of the Coast Guard because the President believes that through that we can serve the Filipino people better,” Hermogino said.

He challenged them to always be at their best in the performance of their duties and reminded them of their responsibilities as public servants.

The 455 newly-enlisted PCG personnel are members of Coast Guardsman Course Class 61-2017 “Sinagkalis.”

In 2017, Coast Guard revealed its intention to hire 4,000 personnel because the organization lacks men to command all 11, 000 coastal barangays in the country.

Commodore Joel Garcia, then PCG officer-in-charge, said the PCG was looking to hire 4,000 additional men and women to be enlisted under the PCG.