Speech by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the PCG Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony in Honor of Admiral Ronnie Gil L. Gavan

Thank you to our Transportation Secretary, Secretary Giovanni Lopez.

The National Security Adviser Ed Oban; other Cabinet members present; [please take your seats] the Excellencies of the Diplomatic Corps; outgoing Commandant Philippine Coast Guard Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan; the newly installed Commandant Philippine Coast Guard Vice Admiral Rommel Supangan; officers and enlisted personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard; my fellow workers in government; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

Good afternoon.

We are here today to recognize a man who has dedicated his entire career to public service.

We honor Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan. We also recognize the institution to which he has devoted his life.

Just last Friday, we celebrated the 125th Founding Anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard, marking more than a century of service to our nation.

The Philippine Coast Guard is, in many ways, the face of the Filipino at sea.

When a storm happens, a vessel gets into trouble, the PCG responds. When our fishermen need assistance, the Coast Guard answers the call.

Across our waters, the Coast Guard works alongside other maritime agencies to safeguard our people, protect our maritime interests, and uphold our sovereign rights.

Truly, the entire nation has come to rely on our Coast Guard because it shows up, again and again, to do its duty.

For the past three years, Admiral Gavan has led this institution with dedication, professionalism, and a firm commitment to protecting our people and our waters.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Maalab” Class of 1993, Admiral Gavan has devoted more than three decades to public service.

His distinguished career, recognized through four Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals and two PMA Cavalier Awards, reflects his steadfast commitment to duty.

Under Admiral Gavan’s leadership, the Coast Guard strengthened its ability to protect lives at sea and to respond to emergencies.

During his term, the Coast Guard conducted nearly 5,000 search and rescue responses,
rescuing 22,784 people.

It also improved its emergency response capabilities through the 10/30 doctrine, enabling faster deployment of assistance when lives are at risk.

The Coast Guard also helped protect communities during disasters. During Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan in 2025, the Coast Guard mobilized personnel and vessels for rescue and relief operations, including the pre-emptive evacuation of 630,812 people ahead of Super Typhoon Uwan.

Beyond search and rescue, the Coast Guard continued to safeguard millions of passengers, protect our maritime interests, and strengthen cooperation with international partners.

Together, these achievements reflect a Coast Guard that is more capable, more responsive, and better prepared to serve our people.

Admiral Gavan, maraming, maraming salamat.

Pinamunuan ninyo ang Philippine Coast Guard ng may integridad at katapatan sa tungkulin. Sa ilalim ng iyong pamumuno, lalo itong naging handa, matatag, at maaasahan.

And as you retire from active duty, I hope you find more time for yourself and your family, who have shared in the sacrifices that come with a lifetime of public service. And as you say, at least for a while.

To Vice Admiral Rommel Supangan, congratulations on your appointment. Your decades of experience in maritime operations and leadership, including your service as Commander of the Coast Guard Fleet, Coast Guard District Palawan, and the Marine Environmental Protection Command, have prepared you for this responsibility.

I am confident that you will build on the accomplishments of your predecessor, further strengthening the Philippine Coast Guard with the full support of this Administration.

To every member of the Philippine Coast Guard, thank you for your dedication and service.

For 125 years, generations of Coast Guardians have answered the call to protect our people and our seas. That responsibility now rests in your hands.

So let us continue this legacy with the same courage, discipline, and commitment that have carried the Coast Guard through more than a century of service.

Together, let us keep watch over our seas and safeguard the future of our nation and our people.

Maraming salamat at mabuhay ang Coast Guard.

Mabuhay ang Bagong Pilipinas. [applause]

— END —