ILOILO City – To combat marine degradation, pollution, and illegal fishing in one of the Philippines’ most vital maritime regions, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officially launched Task Force Ingat Yamang Dagat in Western Visayas on May 29.
Held in this city, the launch gathered key figures from the PCG, national government agencies, local government units, private sector partners, and representatives from coastal barangays.
The taskforce, spearheaded by the PCG Marine Environmental Protection and Emergency Response Group–Western Visayas, is envisioned to become a centralized force to coordinate and enhance environmental protection and emergency response across the region’s vast and vulnerable coastal areas.
Vice Admiral Roy Echeverria, commander of the PCG Marine Environmental Protection Command and keynote speaker of the ceremony, emphasized the strategic importance of partnerships.
“This taskforce goes beyond law enforcement. It is about forging cooperation to protect our most valuable maritime resources,” he said.
Western Visayas is home to critical marine corridors and major fishing grounds that face increasing threats from overexploitation and pollution.
The taskforce will facilitate coordinated surveillance, enforcement, and community engagement programs, particularly in areas prone to illegal activities such as unregulated fishing and oil contamination.
The event was attended by high-ranking PCG officials, including Commodore Geoffrey G. Espaldon, director of the National Operations Center for Oil Pollution, and Commodore Philipps Y. Soria, commander of the PCG District Western Visayas. Their presence, along with multisectoral representatives, underscored the commitment to building an inter-agency and community-driven approach to marine protection.
PCG officials said Task Force Ingat Yamang Dagat represents a proactive shift in environmental governance — placing collaboration at the center of marine conservation in the region./PN
