Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ship BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) returned to the country on Monday, April 21, after nearly a month-long expedition in Southeast Asia where she visited three countries for port calls – Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam – aimed at promoting mutual understanding and collaboration.
PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan led the welcoming ceremony for the crew of the 83-meter-long offshore patrol vessel under the command of Captain Eleizer G. Ibarrientos at the Coast Guard Fleet Parade Ground in Pier 13, Port Area, Manila.
“As we celebrate your safe return, let us also look forward to the future opportunities for collaboration and mutual growth. Your return means the Coast Guard of our maritime and archipelagic nation has arrived. You have proven our worth as a pilar of the Bagong Pilipinas we are all working for,” the PCG chief said.
BRP Gabriela Silang was sent off by the PCG on March 27, setting off the 26-day journey. She visited Laem Chabang Port, Thailand from April 1 to 3; Port Klang Cruise Terminal, Malaysia from April 8 to 10; and Tien Sa Port, Da Nang, Vietnam from April 14 to 17.
Throughout the 26-day journey, the PCG deepened bilateral cooperation with their counterparts from the three countries through a series of activities including courtesy calls, professional exchanges, ship tours, people-to-people engagements, and preparatory meetings for operational collaboration.
In Thailand, the Philippine delegation was welcomed by the men and women of Thailand Maritime Enforcement Coordinating Center (Thai-MECC) as the PCG vessel made her first port visit to the country. A vessel tour, bilateral meeting, and ceremonial lunch and dinner were held onboard the BRP Gabriela Silang.
The mission aligned with key regional engagements, particularly as Thai-MECC assumes the role of chairman and host of the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum (ACF) this 2025, reinforcing the commitment of ASEAN member states to regional maritime cooperation.
In Malaysia, the PCG crew visited the Subang Maritime Air Station as they were welcomed by Captain (Maritime) Mohd Ikmal bin Ridzuan, of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
The MMEA hosted a facility tour to showcase their air operations and capabilities, followed by a luncheon in honor of the visiting PCG officers, and a bilateral meeting where they discussed details for a proposed Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at enhancing collaboration between the two agencies, particularly in information sharing, capacity building, and joint operations. The PCG then shared plans to offer specialized training courses for international students, including MMEA, starting in 2026.
During the final leg in Vietnam, the PCG delegation was welcomed by personnel of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) at Tien Sa Port in Da Nang City, marking also BRP Gabriela Silang’s first port visit there, reciprocating VCG’s landmark visit to the Philippines in August 2024.
The PCG and VCG conducted exercise planning and tabletop exercises in preparation for joint search and rescue and firefighting exercises at sea. The Philippine delegation also paid a visit to the VCG Region 2 headquarters in Quang Nam Province where the Filipino officers had the chance to take a closer look at Vietnam’s maritime enforcement operations and opportunities for exchanges on shared practices.
Captain Ibarrientos said the professional exchanges enabled them to enhance theirinteroperability and trust with their ASEAN counterparts, strengthen crisis coordination, and exchange best practices on maritime safety, law enforcement, and environmental protection.
In recognition of their professionalism and dedication, the officers and crew of BRP Gabriela Silang were conferred with the Outstanding Achievement Award for completing the notable deployment.
“The warm welcome for the PCG delegation by the Coast Guards of the three nations, culminating in last year’s port visit to Manado, Indonesia, becomes a truism of Coast Guard power—that it can only exist through diplomatic acceptance—proving that trust is built among Asian Coast Guards where port visits and regional engagement are part and parcel of soft power diplomacy, one that BRP Gabriela Silang will carry on, setting our sail,” Ibarrientos said.
