Councilor Bon-as pushes establishment of Coast Guard Office in Tabuk for faster emergency response during calamities, drowning incidents

Tabuk City, Kalinga – To ensure faster and more efficient emergency and disaster response services for the iKalingas, Tabuk City Councilor Jayferson Bon-as is pushing for the establishment of a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) satellite office in the city.

In a letter addressed to Commodore Rolando Lorenzana, Commander of the Coast Guard District North Eastern Luzon, Bon-as cited the recent drowning and flooding incidents in the city and the province, stressing that the presence of PCG personnel in Tabuk City would strengthen emergency response operations during disasters, calamities, and other incidents.

The councilor also pointed out that Tabuk City serves as the central transportation hub of Kalinga, adding that the establishment of a PCG satellite office would enhance security monitoring in transport terminals to help ensure public safety and prevent the transport of contraband and other unlawful activities.

On May 6, Bon-as personally visited Lorenzana at his office in Tuguegarao City to discuss the proposal. According to the councilor, the coast guard commander for North Eastern Luzon expressed support for the idea, saying that establishing a PCG office in Tabuk City would help bring coast guard services closer to the people of Kalinga, especially since many of their personnel are from the province.

“Iti kunan ni Commodore Lorenzana ket mas mayat nga adda coast guard iti Kalinga tapnu makatulong da ken makaresponde da dagus iti anya man nga incident. Kasi halos karamihan iti divers da ket taga-Kalinga met lang. Ditoy lang kanu Kalinga ti awan pay coast guard office da since halos amin nga adjacent places ket addan established nga coast guard office,” he relayed.

To further push the proposal, Bon-as visited Governor James Edduba on May 11 to discuss the possible establishment of the PCG satellite office in the province. According to the councilor, the governor also expressed support for the proposal, seeing it as beneficial to the entire province of Kalinga.