SEC. 5. Specific Functions. — The Philippine Coast
Guard shall perform the following functions:
To prevent and suppress illegal entry, illegal fishing, illegal
gathering of corals and other marine products, smuggling, other customs
frauds and violations of other maritime and fishery laws that may be
committed within the waters of the Philippines and, for this purpose,
surveillance and inspection by the Philippine Coast Guard may be made
on vessels entering and/or leaving Philippine territory; Provided,
That any other law enforcement agency may be called upon by the
Philippine Coast Guard to render assistance in the discharge of this
function:
To approve plans for the construction, repair or alteration of
vessels; approve materials, equipment and appliance of vessel; approve
the classification of vessels; inspect vessels and their equipment and
appliances; register all types of motorized watercraft plying in
Philippine waters; issue certificates of inspection and/or permits,
indicating the approval of vessels for operation; issue certificates of
Philippine registry of vessels; administer load line requirements;
promulgate and enforce other provisions for the safety of life and
property of vessels; determine the numbering of undocumented vessels;
Provided, That certification and approval of any plans, equipment
and any vessels by internationally known classification societies which
are recognized by the Philippine government shall be deemed to have
compiled with this Section;
To promulgate and enforce rules for lights, signals, speed,
steering, sailing, passing, anchorage, movement and towlines of vessels
and lights and signals on bridges; supervise, control and regulate
vessels engaged in the carriage of passengers and dangerous cargo; and,
regulate the length, method and speed of tow in bays and rivers of the
Philippines;
To prescribe and enforce regulations for outfitting and operation
of motorboats and the licensing of motor-boats;
To destroy or tow in port sunken or floating dangers to
navigation, including fish traps at or close to sea lanes, and to issue
permits for the salvage of vessels and to supervise all marine salvage
operations as well as prescribe and enforce rules and regulations
governing the same;
To establish, develop, operate and maintain aids to navigation
and facilities for search and rescue operations as well as prescribe
rules and regulations relative thereto;
To promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations
giving effect to the provisions of international conventions for the
safety of life and property at sea and to represent the Philippine
government in such conventions in the interest of promoting regional
cooperation;
To supervise nautical school and maritime training programs and
prescribe minimum requirements in the conduct of courses in navigation,
seamanship, marine engineering and other allied matters in coordination
with the Department of Education and Culture;
To establish, maintain and operate a Seaman's Training Center for
the training of seafarers for employment aboard inter-island and
ocean-going vessels, and in this connection, to establish, maintain and
operate a registration and placement unit or office for the
administration or seaman's affairs;
To enforce laws and promulgate rules and regulations governing
manning of merchant vessels and fishing boats as well as those governing
citizenship and mustering drilling of crews requirements control of
logbooks, shipment, discharge, protection, and welfare of merchant
seamen;
To qualify officers, pilots, major and minor patrons and seamen
through proper examinations and issue licenses and certificates as proof
of their qualification, as well as suspend and revoke such licenses and
certificates in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by
the Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard;
To prescribe rules and regulations for the training and
certification of unlicensed merchant marine personnel and selected
skills in the shipbuilding industry;
To enforce laws and promulgate rules and regulations requiring
performance of duties of ship-owners and officers after accidents and
investigate marine casualties and disasters including those arising from
marine protests relative to the liability of shipowners and officers;
To render aid to distressed persons or vessels on the high seas
and on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the Philippines, and, in
this connection, the Philippine Coast Guard may perform any and all acts
necessary to rescue and aid persons; furnish clothing, food, lodging,
medicine and other necessary supplies and services to persons succored;
protect, save, and take charge of all property saved from marine
disasters until such property is delivered to persons authorized to
receive it or is otherwise disposed of in accordance with law or
applicable regulations; and, collect and take charge of bodies of those
who may perish in such disasters;
To regulate regattas and marine parades;
To enforce laws, promulgate and administer rules and regulations
for the prevention of marine pollution within the territorial waters of
the Philippines in coordination with the National Pollution Control
Commission;
To perform functions pertaining to maritime communications in
coordination with the Radio Control Office and other cognizant agencies,
particularly the requirements of international conventions on Safety of
Life at Sea (SOLAS) as regards maritime communications;
To control, operate and manage all privately owned ships, barges
and other watercraft of Philippine registry relative to the movement of
strategic materials as the national security and economic interest of
the country may warrant or as ordered by the President of the
Philippines or his duly designated representative;
To enforce laws and prescribe rules and regulations relative to
vessels engaged in the barter trade as provided in Presidential Decree
No. 93;
To exercise exclusive jurisdiction over seizure proceedings
against vessels apprehended for violation of the Coast Guard Law, rules
and regulations;
To assist within its capabilities and upon request of the
appropriate authorities, other government agencies in the performance of
their functions, within the waters subject to the jurisdiction of the
Philippines, relating to matters and activities not specifically
mentioned in this section; Provided, That in the exercise of
these functions, personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard shall be deemed
to be acting as agents of the particular department, bureau, office,
agency or instrumentality charged with the enforcement and
administration of the particular law. Members of the Philippine Coast
Guard are peace officers for all purposes of this Decree and shall be,
and shall act, as law enforcement agents of the Bureau of Customs, the
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Commission on Immigration
and Deportation, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the National Pollution
Control Commission, the Radio Control Office and such other
departments, bureaus or offices in the enforcement of pertinent laws,
rules and regulations.
