In a significant move to enhance disaster response and environmental protection, the local government of Sto. Tomas, Pampanga, has handed over a new two-storey facility valued at PHP1.5 million to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). The ceremony, attended by Mayor John Sambo and PCG officials, highlighted the importance of this new asset in bolstering maritime safety and disaster preparedness in the region.
The PCG announced that the facility, located near the community landing fish port in Brgy. Poblacion, will serve as a multi-functional space. This new building is expected to strengthen the collaboration between the Sto. Tomas LGU and the PCG, focusing on maritime safety, disaster readiness, and ecological conservation.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed his gratitude towards the Sto. Tomas LGU for the donation, emphasizing that the facility would significantly enhance the morale of PCG personnel. He stated, “This facility will greatly aid us in fulfilling our duty to respond to the needs of our fellow Filipinos, especially during crises, calamities, and disasters.”
Mayor Sambo also shared his thoughts on the donation, noting that it would bring coast guard officers closer to the community, thereby improving disaster awareness, preparedness, and response. He praised the collaboration between national and local governments, saying, “When the national and local governments work together, great things can happen.”
In addition to the facility, the municipality is also donating a 5,000-square-meter vacant lot to the PCG. This land could be used for future PCG schooling and training facilities, further solidifying the partnership between the local government and the coast guard.