Philippine Coast Guard Joins FSI’s Law of the Sea Academy Summer Program

(From left to right) CG CDR Joseph P. Ginete, CG CDR Jomel Q. Panes, CG Rowene G. Colita, FSI Assistant Secretary Francisco Noel Fernandez III, Prof. Jay L. Batongbacal, PhD, CG CDR Jonah A. Arugay, CG CDR Kristoffer I. Ilarde, and CG CDR Janus Robinson N. Sabas.

TAGAYTAY 14 May 2024 – At the launching of its inaugural Law of the Sea Academy (LSA) Summer Program from 23 to 27 April 2024 at the Development Academy of the Philippines Conference Center in Tagaytay, the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) opened its doors to six participants from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). Led by Commander Rowene G. Colita, Course Director of the Coast Guard Officer Senior Executive Course (CGOSEC), the participating coast guard officers sought to gain a cohesive Filipino narrative on the West Philippine Sea issue and other related maritime challenges and opportunities through the Filipino maritime experts who served as Resource Persons in the program.

The PCG participants engaged in a substantial exchange of knowledge and insights with LSA participants from FSI, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), and the Philippine Senate. The engagement offered a new perspective on the varying areas of concern in the country’s maritime environment. Through their expertise and first-hand experiences in tactical operations and maritime safety, the PCG participants were able to help elevate the discourse in the LSA sessions through their contribution during the discussions. The program also highlighted the pivotal role of the PCG in supporting maritime-related endeavors in the country.

The LSA Summer Program aims to become the premier educational resource on the law of the sea for Philippine public servants in support of a whole-of-government approach.

FSI is scheduled to convene the next session of the Law of the Sea Academy later in the year, with diplomatic officials from Southeast Asia as the targeted participants. END