On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the acquisition of five large cutters and 40 fast patrol craft for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The acquisitions, supported by France and Japan, will triple the PCG’s patrol fleet of vessels over 100 feet, bringing the service’s order total to 49 ships. The vessels are intended to support the PCG’s patrol and law enforcement missions, especially in disputed areas where Philippine and Chinese maritime forces have frequently clashed.
The first order includes five 97-meter oceangoing cutters financed by Japan, which will be constructed by a Japanese shipyard. Japan has been a longstanding defense partner of the Philippines, delivering several patrol vessels in recent years. The cutters will join two existing Japanese-built 97-meter vessels, the BRP Teresa Magbanua and BRP Melchora Aquino, currently deployed to secure supply missions and patrol disputed waters in the Spratly Islands.
The second acquisition, funded through France’s $440 million official development assistance program, includes 40 fast patrol craft. Of these, 20 will be built locally in the Philippines, a move expected to create jobs and provide a significant boost to Manila’s shipbuilding sector. French logistical support for the fleet is also part of the agreement. The patrol craft, each 30-35 meters long, are similar in function to the 44-meter Parola-class vessels provided by Japan in recent years. French shipbuilder OCEA, which previously delivered several patrol boats to the PCG, including the BRP Gabriela Silang, is anticipated to lead the project and expand its local shipyard capabilities within the Philippines.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan described the new fleet additions as transformative for the Coast Guard, which has struggled to secure the 7,641 islands of the Philippine archipelago with limited resources. According to Gavan, the French-built patrol boats, set for delivery over the next four years, will provide critical response speed to reach the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone’s (EEZ) farthest points. “It is a game changer for us,” Gavan stated, adding that the new vessels will support law enforcement and deterrence missions, especially in areas where Philippine forces encounter illegal activities such as smuggling and poaching.
