The Philippine coastguard will undergo a substantial transformation with the addition of 49 new vessels from France and Japan. This plan aims to more than double its current fleet, bolstering the country’s ability to protect its maritime territories amid rising tensions in the South China Sea. Coastguard commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan announced the fleet expansion at the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea, outlining that the acquisition will begin in 2027.
New Vessels from France to Boost Maritime Security
As part of this major upgrade, the coastguard will acquire 40 fast-patrol craft (FPCs) from France to strengthen its response capabilities. The French government will provide a $438 million official development assistance loan package to finance these 35-meter (115-feet) patrol boats. This deal includes a nine-year logistics support program to ensure the continued functionality of these ships over time, as well as additional equipment.
This partnership will also incorporate a technology transfer, with local construction for half of the new vessels. France will construct twenty of the 40 patrol boats, while the Philippines will assemble the remaining twenty. This will support domestic shipbuilding and enable the nation to improve its maritime capabilities while generating employment. This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Philippine government to improve national security, combat smuggling, and prevent illegal activities along the coastlines. The coastguard will deploy the new patrol boats to safeguard critical marine areas, establishing a greater presence in these waters.
Alongside the ship acquisition, the collaboration between France and the Philippines has also extended to security cooperation, with the potential for troops from both countries to operate within each other’s territories. French vessels have recently joined military drills with Philippine forces, including the Balikatan joint exercises, further strengthening the alliance between the two nations.
Additional Support from Japan for Enhanced Maritime Defense
In addition to the vessels from France, the Philippine coastguard will receive five larger 97-meter (260-feet) ships from Mitsubishi Shipbuilding in Japan, funded by a $507 million loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency. These sizable ships will enhance the coastguard’s operational reach and defensive capabilities in larger maritime areas, particularly in the expansive South China Sea, where foreign vessels have increasingly pressured the Philippines.
The Philippine coastguard already operates two Japanese vessels of similar size, the BRP Teresa Magbanua and the BRP Melchora Aquino, which have recently deterred foreign coastguard ships from the Philippines’ territorial waters. These additional vessels will help enforce the country’s exclusive economic zone and protect against unauthorized intrusions by expanding the coastguard’s surveillance and defensive range.
Currently, the coastguard operates a fleet of 25 large vessels ranging from 24 to 97 meters in length, along with over 500 smaller boats. These new acquisitions are set to significantly improve the coastguard’s capacity to cover the country’s vast 37 million square kilometers (23 million square miles) of coastline. This fleet expansion aligns with the Philippine government’s broader national security strategy, helping the coastguard address various challenges in maintaining sovereignty over its waters.
Legislative Backing and Personnel Expansion
To support the coastguard’s expanding role, new laws have been introduced to enhance maritime security regulations across the country. The Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act, recently signed into law, assign the coastguard the primary responsibility for upholding these rules across the nation’s 7,000 islands and its exclusive economic zone. These laws not only strengthen the coastguard’s authority but also ensure that its actions align with international standards, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
As the coastguard’s operational responsibilities grow, it plans to increase its personnel. The coastguard expects to recruit around 7,000 new members by the end of 2025, bringing the total number of personnel to about 37,000.This boost in manpower will make the Philippine coastguard one of the most well-staffed maritime security forces in the region.
However, expanding the coastguard also comes with challenges, especially in training the new recruits to operate and maintain the advanced vessels. The coastguard commandant emphasized the need to manage and invest in personnel to ensure they are well-prepared for their roles. They will prioritize quality training to promote professionalism at sea and prevent incidents that could harm international relations.
Through this upgrade, the Philippines is aiming to strengthen its presence in the region and enhance its maritime defenses amid ongoing tensions. The planned acquisition of new ships from France and Japan, along with the legislative and personnel support, marks a significant step toward securing the country’s maritime sovereignty and ensuring the safety of its waters.