PCG to recruit 1,000 for new vessels from Japan, France

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is pursuing plans to hire close to 1,000 personnel next year to address the manpower shortage in the command and boost its maritime capability, with the arrival of new vessels from Japan and France. Rear Admiral William Melad, acting commandant of the PCG, said that “massive recruitment” of Coast Guard men will push through in 2016 since it is included by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the budget. “We are allowed by DBM to hire 900 for 2016. These are uniformed personnel,” Melad said. The PCG, an attached agency of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), was able to hire an additional of 1,452 personnel this year. The number of new recruits, however, is still not enough to meet the PCG’s goal of having a 10,000-strong command before President Aquino’s term ends next year. At present, around 8,807 personnel are employed [...]