Maritime safety, search and rescue, law enforcement, and environmental protection operations in northern Negros are expected to improve with the deployment of the Philippine Coast Guard’s High-Speed Response Boat 053 (HSRB-053) in Sagay City.
The vessel was formally blessed and inaugurated on Aug. 11 at the Sagay City Feeder Port in Brgy. Old Sagay, bringing a faster-response maritime asset closer to coastal communities, fisherfolk, passengers, and the protected waters of the Visayan Sea, a press release from Sagay City said Wednesday, Aug. 12.
HSRB-053 is a 12- to 15-meter class high-speed response boat acquired under the Philippine Coast Guard modernization initiative.
Constructed using fiberglass-reinforced plastic, the vessel was designed as a fast and highly maneuverable platform for near-shore and inter-island operations.
The boat is capable of speeds exceeding 30 knots and is intended to bridge the operational gap between larger offshore patrol vessels and smaller boats, allowing Coast Guard personnel to respond more quickly to emergencies and maritime threats.
Commander Artzell M. Anacan, deputy commander of Coast Guard District Southern Visayas, said the new vessel will strengthen maritime law enforcement, maritime security, marine environmental protection, and maritime search and rescue operations along the coastlines of Negros Occidental.
He said that speed is critical during maritime emergencies, particularly when responding to distress calls, capsized motorbancas, and other incidents where every minute can determine whether lives are saved.
Anacan described the vessel as more than an additional piece of equipment, calling it “a new lifeline for the people of Negros Occidental and a new shield for our coastal waters.”
Coast Guard District Southern Visayas Commander Commodore Christopher D. Auro said HSRB-053 is the second high-speed response boat deployed in the Negros Island Region, following an earlier deployment in Siaton, Negros Oriental.
Auro said the deployment strengthens the Coast Guard’s operational presence in Negros and reflects the national government’s continuing investment in faster maritime response capabilities.
He also challenged the personnel assigned to operate and maintain HSRB-053 to uphold high standards of professionalism, discipline, competence, and operational readiness.
“Take good care of this asset, continuously develop your skills, and ensure that this boat is always mission-ready. Our equipment may give us greater capability, but it is the dedication, judgment, and courage of our people that ultimately determine the success of every mission,” he said.
Mayor Leo Rafael “Bebo” M. Cueva welcomed the deployment, saying the vessel will complement Sagay City’s continuing efforts to protect its extensive coastal and marine resources.
Cueva highlighted the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve, saying its protection requires significant manpower, equipment, partnerships, and sustained enforcement.
He said protecting the Visayan Sea is not only an environmental concern but also an economic and social responsibility because thousands of families in Sagay and neighboring coastal communities depend on fishing and other marine resources for their livelihood.
“Protecting the Sagay Marine Reserve is also protecting the livelihood of our fisherfolk. We need all the help we can get, and this high-speed response boat will be a big help not only in protecting our waters but also in promoting the safe passage of passengers traveling between islands,” Cueva said.
The mayor recalled the late Gov. Joseph Marañon’s belief that the Visayan Sea could play an important role in addressing poverty because of the wealth of resources it provides to coastal communities.
“This part of the region is rich in resources. If we protect these resources, we are also protecting the livelihoods of our people. We hope that together, we can make a difference in protecting this important part of our country,” Cueva added.
Cueva also assured the Philippine Coast Guard of the City Government’s cooperation, particularly in programs involving the Sagay Marine Reserve, maritime safety, coastal protection, and the welfare of local fisherfolk.
Personnel from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and City Government joined Coast Guard officials during the inauguration.
Also present were Councilors Mel Serondo, Sherwin Sy, and Exequiel Marañon, along with lawyer Ryan I. Bonghanoy, head of the Economic Enterprise Management Office, Helen Arguelles Cutillar, head of City Information and Tourism Office, Lt. JG Richelito L. Arbis, commander of Coast Guard Sub-Station Sagay;
PO1 John Catilo, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sub-Station Sagay, Brgy. Molocaboc Punong Barangay Rocky Pasaylo, Brgy. Old Sagay Punong Barangay Rogelio A. Sayam, CDRRMO Head Wally B. Afuang, Engr. Jessie Tiangson of Sagay Central Inc., Aux. VAdm. Ashford Chua, PCGA, Auxiliary Vice Admiral Executive Squadron;
Aux. RAdm. Larry Kilayko, PCGA, Aux. RAdm. Dannyl N. Yap, PCGA, director of Auxiliary District Southern Visayas, Aux. Lt. JG Rev. Fr. Nicolas Cientos II, PCGA, and Aux. Cdr. Tito Mahinay Ramirez, PCGA.*
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