Nacaya cmte tackles proposal to activate PCG substation along Oro River

THE City Council committee on planning and development chaired by Councilor Ian Mark Q. Nacaya during its recent meeting discussed the proposal of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)

to activate a dedicated substation along the Cagayan de Oro River.

According to the station commander of PCG Western Station of Misamis Oriental, the proposed project is in line with the Intensified Community Awareness Response and Enforcement (ICARE) operational plan purposely to strengthen PCG presence in every coastal municipality.

“Typically we knew that the PCG is being seen only in ports but now since the approval of RA 9993 or the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009, the expansion of the function of the Coast Guard includes maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, maritime search and rescue, and maritime safety administration, so lumawak na siya, ” the PCG representative explained.

The proposal was also formulated based on the difficulties experienced by the agency particularly its search and rescue operations during the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong in 2010, he

further cited.

It was learned that the project will be the first and only substation in the country alongside a river.

With the support and approval in terms of providing the organic coast guard the land area and the initial building to house its personnel and resources, it is projected to save the city

government on similar resources as it is open to have them as a complementary entity parallel to the organic PCG.

“We understand that the city already has a very structured search and rescue group but the more experienced PCG personnel, having been trained on such scenarios, would be more beneficial (to the city) as they can also train our city personnel in that regard. Incidentally, by having this substation within the Cagayan de Oro River, it would promote river navigation, water safety, environmental protection, sustainability of the river being known as The River of Life in the history of the city,” another PCG representative explained.

With this, the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) was tasked to give updates specifically on the technicalities of the subject property as a basis for the passage of legislation

and/or any other appropriate action for the purpose.