BOC gets first of 20 water patrol boats

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Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo during the September 20 inspection of BOC's first water patrol boat. Photo from BOC.
  • The Bureau of Customs (BOC) received the first of its 20 acquired water patrol boats that will form the new assets of the agency
  • BOC has acquired 20 units of 12.7-meter boats equipped with three engines with top speed of over 45 knots
  • The boats will be used by BOC’s Water Patrol Division in boarding formalities, patrol and water pursuits within the nation’s borders

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) received the first of 20 water patrol boats acquired to enhance its border security and law enforcement efforts.

Each of the 12.7-meter fast boats is equipped with three engines capable of a top speed of over 45 knots, BOC said in a statement.

The boat was inspected on September 20 by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, BOC Enforcement Group deputy commissioner Teddy Raval, BOC Internal Administration Group deputy commissioner Donato San Juan, and the Enforcement and Security Service-Water Patrol Division (WPD).

Part of BOC’s 10-point priority program this year is to reactivate its WPD, deploy additional personnel to conduct border patrol, and procure water patrol boats and surveillance equipment and other gadgets.

Among the agency’s priorities is to strengthen port surveillance and water patrol capability by increasing police manpower, conducting a series of marine interdiction for capacity building, and providing modern equipment to ensure stronger border control capabilities and prevent the entry of illegal commodities and anti-social goods.

In September 2020, BOC and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) signed a memorandum of agreement to intensify joint efforts to foil smuggling activities within the country’s waters. Under the MOA, PCG committed to train customs personnel on how to operate and man the patrol boats.

READ: Coast Guard to help man BOC patrol boats

PCG committed to provide manpower to operate the 20 fast boats that BOC purchased as part of its enhanced border security and law enforcement efforts.

READ: BOC’s water patrol unit begins speedboat operations training

Last July, the WPD conducted a capacity-building training to prepare its personnel for the arrival of the fast boats.

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