The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sought continued partnerships in different areas of cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum (ACF) during a recent high-level meeting in Pattaya, Thailand.

In a belated news release Friday, the PCG said the agenda is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive for the PCG to consistently foster regional dialogue, strengthen multilateral partnerships and contribute to a rules-based maritime order in Southeast Asia.

The PCG presented the 2024 ACF-related activities and initiatives that included capacity building, people-to-people exchanges, port visits and operational cooperation.

It offered the Coast Guard Officer Senior Executive Course, an equivalent of the General Staff Corps of the Philippine Army, to officers from ACF member agencies.

It also discussed short, specialized, and technical courses to officers and personnel from ACF member agencies to be delivered through PCG training programs.

“These efforts reflected the PCG’s strong support for the [ACF’s] goals and objectives,” it said.

The PCG likewise formally conveyed its intent to host the meeting in 2026 as part of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN Summit.

“This manifestation was welcomed by ACF member agencies and underscores the PCG’s unwavering commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation, security, and interoperability within the ASEAN region,” it said.

Among the topics discussed at the meeting were the review and refinement of the terms of reference and concept paper, where ACF members agreed to work closely toward the early adoption of these documents to formalize the ACF as an ASEAN sectoral body.

The meeting was also attended by the coast guard and maritime law enforcement agencies from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste (observer). (PNA)