DFA MOAO Conducts Chart Reading and Ship Familiarization with PH Coast Guard, Highlights Role of Women in Maritime Security

MANILA 20 March 2023 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Maritime and Ocean Affairs Office (MOAO), in collaboration with Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Fleet, joins the celebration of the National Women’s Month through a Chart Reading and Ship Familiarization Workshop.

The workshop was held aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) at Pier 13, Port Area, Manila, to enhance MOAO personnel’s knowledge and skills with regards to nautical and navigational terms as well as chart reading and plotting positions. 

In her opening remarks, MOAO Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce highlighted the importance of the workshop and recognized PCG’s important role in the country’s maritime interest and promoting peace and security, particularly in the West Philippine Sea. She also commended PCG’s efforts in providing leadership opportunities for women in its workforce. 

Coast Guard Rear Admiral Charlie Q. Rances, Commander of the Philippine Coast Guard Fleet welcomed Assistant Secretary Ponce and the rest of MOAO personnel, including representatives from the DFA Offices of American Affairs (OAA), Asian and Pacific Affairs (ASPAC), and Treaties and Legal Affairs (OTLA). 

CG CDR Artzell Anacan, Commanding Officer of BRP Teresa Magbanua, provided a briefing on BRP Teresa Magbanua’s capabilities and missions. The 97-meter ship is a Multi-Role Response Vessel (MRRV) made by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Japan, specifically for the Philippine Coast Guard. It is the lead ship of the patrol vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard and was named after Teresa Magbanua, a school teacher and military leader who is known as the “Visayan Joan of Arc", having participated in all three resistance movements in Philippine history.

The workshop instructors are CG LTSG Kris Ann Custodio, Commanding Officer of BRP Boracay (FPV-2401) and CG ENS Joena Bibat deck and navigational officer of BRP Teresa Magbanua. 

After the workshop, the participants were also given a tour of the BRP Gabriela Silang headed by its Commanding Officer CG CAPT Jaybom J Calica. BRP Gabriela Silang is an 83-meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV) of the PCG, currently the second largest of the PCG fleet and was named after Gabriela Silang, a revolutionary leader during the Philippine struggle for independence from Spain. BRP Gabriela Silang was constructed by French shipbuilder OCEA S.A., in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. END

From Top left, clockwise: 1) PCG sideboys salute DFA MOAO Assistant Secretary Maria Angela A. Ponce as she is piped aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua; 2) Assistant Secretary Ponce signs the visitor logbook of BRP Teresa Magbanua; 3) and 4) CG ENS Joena Bibat provides a briefing on the navigational equipment at the bridge of BRP Teresa Magbanua.

PCG Officers providing lectures on nautical terminology and basics of navigational chart reading and plotting positions

Left: Workshop participants with the PCG officers of BRP Teresa Magbanua; Right: Workshop participants with the PCG officers of BRP Gabriela Silang; Bottom: Women participating in the workshop with the PCG instructors.