MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged newly promoted Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) flag officers to lead with courage and integrity as their duty of protecting the nation is among the "most crucial" in government.
The President made the call on Tuesday during the oath-taking ceremony of the 21 newly promoted PCG flag officers at the Malacañang Palace.
"This rank that you carry is a responsibility that impacts every Filipino, especially those who depend on the sea and in the Philippines that counts every single Filipino," the President said in a speech.
"Serve in a way that honors the oath that you took today. Lead with courage and integrity. Always remember whom you serve. This past year alone has reminded us of that," the President said in a speech
"Our Coast Guard has been out on the water, patrolling the West Philippine Sea, escorting and supporting our reprovisioning missions there, and standing beside our fisherfolk in times of distress," he said.
The Commander in Chief urged the newly promoted flag officers to lead by example. "Uphold the highest standards of integrity. Prepare the next generation of Coast Guard leaders."
The President also encouraged the PCG to "embrace" innovation and modernization. "Strengthen the partnerships that allow us to address challenges that no institution can tackle alone."
The Chief Executive noted that the Philippines is a nation after all of many islands. "Almost everything that is important to us, be it food, trade, security, even identity, is tied to our waters."
"The Coast Guard has also been keeping our ports and travelers safe. They inspect vessels and look after millions of passengers moving through our ports," Marcos said.
"They have protected our seas by conducting environmental inspections nationwide," the President added.
He said that when it comes to enforcing laws, such as going after illegal fishing, smuggling, and other threats, the PCG is always among the first to respond.
