Several government agencies under the Davao City Maritime Council conducted a search and rescue exercise in Davao City to show the council’s ability in responding to maritime situations, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Friday.
All available floating and air assets of the members of the Maritime Council were in full display during the anti-piracy, counter-narcotics and anti-terrorism exercise held in Davao Gulf Wednesday.
The exercise, according to the PCG, aims to develop and upgrade the response, coordination and interoperability of member agencies situated in Davao City. It also sets the standard of enforcing and protecting the city and its neighboring places.
Commodore Roy Echeverria, Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao commander and vice chairperson of the council, said that they maximized the use of all available assets for the exercise “to show to the public the preparedness of all member agencies in protecting the city, knowing that a number of national and international activities are slated this year in Davao City.”
The Davao City Maritime Council is composed of different agencies and units including Philippine Coast Guard, Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao, Tactical Operations Wing Eastern Mindanao XI, Eastern Mindanao Command, Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Customs, City Agriculturist Office, Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas, Davao Central 911, Public Safety and Security Command Center, Maritime Group XI, Maritime Industry Authority XI, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Ports Authority and Davao City Government.
