The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has granted the Notice of Award to French firm OCEA for the purchase of 40 units of 35-meter patrol boats.
In November 2024, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the purchase of fast patrol crafts (FPCs) as part of the Bagong Pilipinas initiative to strengthen maritime security by upgrading PCG’s capabilities.
During the meeting between Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon and PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan with Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and French Nationals Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin last Friday, the visiting French minister invited the Philippine officials to visit OCEA shipyard for the ceremonial first cutting of sheet metal, marking the start of construction for PCG’s ordered vessels.
Earlier, Gavan said this is the largest single-purchase in PCG modernization to date, worth PHP25.8 billion, that will be backed by official development assistance (ODA) from the French government.
In his visit here, Saint-Martin reassured the French government’s financing for the naval and air fleet modernization of the PCG.
Negotiations are also rolling for the three new sister ships to the BRP Gabriela Silang, which was also built and delivered by OCEA in 2020.
On top of this deal, PCG and OCEA signed on April 11 two maintenance contracts, with the latter servicing the former’s vessels. (PNA)