The flagship vessel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) arrived on Wednesday following is successful participation in the second joint trilateral maritime exercise with Japan and United States coast guards and its preventive maintenance program in Kagoshima this month.

The 123 delegates aboard BRP Teresa Magbanua were welcomed by the PCG personnel, led by Rear Admiral Hostillo Arturo Cornelio during the arrival ceremony at Pier 13 in South Harbor, Manila. The ship left on June 6.

During the ceremony, Vice Admiral Edgar Ybanez received the Coast Guard Outstanding Achievement Medal and Ribbon from Cornelio on behalf of the crew of PCG flagship vessel.

In his speech, Ybanez said during their stay in Japan, the PCG delegation was "honored with cultural exposure through a city tour, as well as a series of courtesy calls to local leaders and maritime officials that deepened diplomatic ties and reaffirmed shared goals of maritime peace, stability, and cooperation."

"The successful conduct of the actual drills stood as a powerful demonstration of unity and preparedness among the Philippine, Japanese, and American Coast Guards. As BRP Teresa Magbanua returns home, it carries...not only the prestige of mission success, but also the pride of having elevated the PCG's global stature," he said.

"The officers and crew have brought honor to the service, exemplifying excellence throughout the deployment. This historic undertaking will inspire future missions and reinforce the message of true collaboration, shared values, and determination the Philippine Coast Guard continues to grow further and represent the nation with pride from the world maritime stage," he added.

In an interview with reporters, Cornelio said aside from enhancing its interoperability, the PCG also trained its "communication and doctrines on how to conduct search and rescue and maritime environmental protection" during the trilateral exercises.

The PCG noted that the trilateral exercise which includes "communication exercise , search and rescue exercise, fire fighting exercise, photo exercise , and exercise on transfer of personnel" strengthened the collective capability of the participating Coast Guard "to respond to maritime emergencies and natural disasters."

"It also served as a vital platform to exchange best practices, improve operational synergy, and reaffirm the shared commitment to uphold safety, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," it added. Robina Asido/DMS