Government agencies join maritime drill

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other government agencies participated in the Inter-Agency Maritime Capability Exercise (MARCAPEX) 2024 in Davao City from Nov. 21 to 23.

The activity, led by the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao (CGDSEM), was considered a significant milestone in inter-agency cooperation and operational readiness in maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, firefighting and marine pollution.

“The exercise brought together various stakeholders that want to strengthen their capacity in safeguarding the nation’s maritime domain,” the CGDSEM said.

Aside from the PCG, other participants in the activity were the Bureau of Customs, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, Philippine Navy and Philippine Red Cross as well as Davao City Central 911 and Davao City disaster risk reduction and management council.

“The success of MARCAPEX 2024 highlighted the PCG’s dedication to building a resilient and capable maritime force, fostering stronger interagency collaboration and ensuring the safety and security of the country’s territorial waters,” the CGDSEM said.