THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in Quezon City on 12 April 2024.
The MOA signing was held in simple rites with main signatories PDEA Director General Undersecretary Moro Virgilio Lazo and PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan.
The activity was witnessed by key officials and personnel from both government agencies.
Under the agreement, PDEA and the PCG have declared their cooperation relative to the interdiction of illegal drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) smuggled, transported and transshipped into the Philippine territory.
Both parties have agreed to hold regular meetings for the purpose of discussing operational matters, the current status of the programs, and the formulation of necessary strategies to facilitate the accomplishments of the MOA’s objectives; and exchange best practices and knowledge on drug smuggling, transportation and transshipment.
In addition, PDEA shall establish a comprehensive information collection plan to obtain information on illegal drug activities from sources at all levels, and shall take the lead role in narcotics investigation and the conduct of anti-drug operations, while PCG shall assist the former in gathering, collecting, processing, and analyzing information to prevent the entry of illegal drugs through the coastlines.
The MOA also paved the way to deputize PDEA personnel to join PCG in enforcement inspections of merchant ships and vessels within the ambit of its lawful authority.
According to the country’s census, with 7,107 islands, the Philippines has one of the longest coastlines in the world which stretches 36,289 kilometers. It extends 2,000 kilometers from Batanes to Jolo encompassing 25 major cities located on the coast. It is also estimated that more than 60 percent of the Philippine population lives along the coast.
