As continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea place maritime security high on the regional agenda, the Department of Foreign Affairs has trained Philippine Coast Guard personnel on basic diplomatic and government protocol ahead of key ASEAN maritime meetings to be hosted and co-hosted by the Philippines this year.
The DFA conducted the training for 36 PCG personnel on May 13, 2026, at the Auditorium of Bachrach Building 1 in Port Area, Manila.
Hosted by the PCG, the training was facilitated by a team from the DFA Office of Protocol led by Director for Socials Division Maria Angelica C. Genotiva, with the assistance of Nova L. De Lara and Jamelle C. Fabroa.
The training comes as the PCG continues to play a highly visible role in defending the country’s maritime rights and supporting Philippine operations in the West Philippine Sea, where repeated confrontations with China have drawn regional and international attention.
Beyond patrols and maritime operations, the PCG is also increasingly involved in international engagements, making protocol, diplomacy, and proper coordination with foreign counterparts essential to its work.
In his closing remarks, Commodore Algier D. Ricafrente, Deputy Chief of Coast Guard Staff for International Affairs, emphasized the importance of the training in enhancing the protocol proficiency of PCG personnel as they prepare for the hosting of the 5th ASEAN Coast Guard Forum High-Level Meeting in June 2026 and the co-hosting of the ASEAN Maritime Forum and Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum in November 2026.
Ricafrente also said that learning the “nitty gritty” of protocol will help PCG personnel perform their roles as they engage with international counterparts.
To strengthen their understanding of the lecture, Coast Guard participants took part in simulated scenarios as their final activity.
The upcoming ASEAN meetings are expected to provide platforms for maritime agencies and officials to discuss cooperation, regional security, and shared challenges at sea at a time when the West Philippine Sea remains a flashpoint in the region.