The Philippine Coast Guard will look into the possibility of expanding its substations, especially in southern Negros, where rampant illegal fishing activities have been monitored, Lt. Cmdr. Ramil Palabrica, newly-installed Coast Guard Station Bacolod chief, said yesterday.

If there is a request, we will study and recommend it to the Coast Guard District Western Visayas if it is viable, Palabrica said.

The Coast Guard District Western Visayas lacks personnel and equipment to perform its mandate of enforcing maritime laws, and search and rescue operations, among others, its commander, Commodore Leopoldo Laroya, said.

In the past several months, Task Force Lawod intercepted several big commercial fishing boats intruding in the prohibited rich fishing grounds of Cauayan and Ilog in Negros Occidental.

Palabrica, who succeeded Lt. Cmdr. Glen Daraug as Coast Guard Station Bacolod chief, vowed to further strengthen their search and rescue activities with the onset of the rainy season, maritime environmental protection, intensify K-9 inspection at various ports, and provide assistance to passengers.

There are seven Coast Guard substations in Negros Occidental, established in San Carlos, Escalante, Cadiz, Victorias, BREDCO Port in Bacolod City, and Pulupandan and Hinigaran, which are now under the supervision of Palabrica.

Daraug, who was reassigned to the Coast Guard national headquarters in Manila as assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Marine Environmental Protection, was conferred a Coast Guard Merit Medal and Ribbon, by Laroya, in recognition of his exemplary service to the Negrenses for more than two years and six months.

Laroya, who presided over the change of command held at the Domingo Lacson National High School in Bacolod City, commended Daraug for a job well done.

He also acknowledged that the support extended to Daraug by various stakeholders, including the media, made his job easier to accomplish.

Daraug said there were no casualties when super typhoon Yolanda struck Negros Occidental because of the advance warning aired through the local media.*GPB

Gilbert Bayoran photo

Commodore Leopoldo Laroya (center) officiates at the transfer of the Coast Guard Station Bacolod command from LCDR Glen Daraug (right) to LCDR Ramil Palabrica, yesterday*

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