BOC’s water patrol unit begins speedboat operations training

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The 29 personnel of the Bureau of Customs' Water Patrol Division joined a 25-day training as part of preparations for the arrival of the bureau's 20 fast boats. Photo courtesy of BOC.
  • The Bureau of Customs’ Water Patrol Division has kicked off a 25-day training to prepare personnel for the arrival of 20 fast boats
  • The Small Boat Operation and Maintenance Course aims to equip BOC’s 29 water patrol personnel with basic navigation, boat handling and maneuvering skills as well as boat operations and maintenance capability
  • Part of BOC’s 10-point priority program this year is to reactivate the WPD, deploy additional personnel to conduct border patrol, and procure water patrol boats and surveillance equipment and other gadgets

The Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Water Patrol Division (WPD) has kicked off a 25-day training to prepare personnel for the arrival of 20 fast boats.

The Small Boat Operation and Maintenance Course for the 29 WPD members started last July 12 in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and BOC’s Interim Training and Development Division, the bureau said in a statement.

The 25-day course aims to equip BOC’s water patrol personnel with basic navigation, boat handling and maneuvering skills as well as boat operations and maintenance capability.

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 priorities is to strengthen port surveillance, 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 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 also committed to provide manpower that will operate the 20 fast boats that BOC purchased as part of enhanced border security and law enforcement efforts.

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