PCG Caticlan and Boracay, to possibly have a helicopter for search and rescue operations

Posted April 14, 2014 as of 6:00pm

Written by Gloria Villas

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) will possibly give one helicopter for Boracay and Caticlan.

This is according to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Station Commandant Lt. Senior Grade Jimmy Oliver Vingno in line with the coastguard’s first ever Search and Rescue (SAR) Base in Roxas City, Capiz.

Vingno said that during the groundbreaking ceremony last Saturday, Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas said that the City of Roxas was chosen as the base of SAR because it is the center of Sea Lanes in the country and is closer to airports and other government agencies.

This will also serve as the SAR base for the whole Visayas Region.

Meanwhile, the mentioned coastguard base costs up to 211 million pesos and is expected to be finished this year.

Along with DILG Sec. Roxas, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya also attended the groundbreaking ceremony where he said that choosing Roxas City as the location is “SAR Base Strategic.”

Translated by Shelah Casiano