Philippine, Indian Coast Guards Steam Ahead with Multifaceted Cooperation at Delhi Meet

PCG RAmd Ybañez and ICG Inspector General and DDG Rai (seated center), Third Secretary Dizon (back, 3rd from left), with the PCG and ICG delegations to the High-Level meeting. (New Delhi PE photo)

NEW DELHI 14 January 2025 — Philippine-Indian cooperation in the maritime space continued to gain momentum as ranking officials the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Indian Coast Guard (ICG) convened in New Delhi on 09 December 2024 to deliberate on priority areas. The High-Level Meeting was held in furtherance of the Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Cooperation signed by the two parties in New Delhi in August 2023. 

Rear Admiral Edgar L. Ybañez, Deputy Commandant for Administration, led the PCG delegation that also included Commodore Antonio B.ÿ Sontillanosa Jr,  Ensign Paulene Joy P. Duldulao, and Ensign Dominic C. Oliquin. Joining them at the meeting was Philippine Embassy Political Officer (Third Secretary) Mr. Mark Anthony P. Dizon. Inspector General and Deputy Director General Anupam Rai co-chaired the meeting for the ICG. 

Both sides took stock of growing coast guard-to-coast guard engagement between the two countries in recent years, and considered priority areas for enhanced cooperation. These included marine environment protection, nighttime safety and security, joint exercises, capacity building, and training.

The two Coast Guards also underscored the importance of cooperation in search and rescue (SAR), maritime pollution response and broader concerns such as upholding the rules-based maritime international order.

Before departing India, the PCG delegation paid a courtesy call on Ambassador to India Josel F. Ignacio, who underscored support for rising maritime security cooperation between the two countries. END

PCG and ICG extensively priority areas of cooperation. (New Delhi PE photo)

Ambassador Ignacio, Third Secretary Dizon, and Defense Attaché Rolando Gomez welcome the PCG delegation.

For more information, visit https://www.newdelhipe.dfa.gov.ph, https://twitter.com/PHinIndia https://www.instagram.com/phinindia or https://www.facebook.com/Philippine-Embassy-in-India-348528665275556/.