QUEZON CITY, Oct. 22 (PIA)--President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed PCG's Deputy Commandant for Administration Vice Admiral Joel Sarsiban Garcia as the 28th Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard.

In a letter of appointment signed by the President last October 21, Vice Admiral Garcia is set to assume the position on Thursday, 24 October, after Admiral Elson Hermogino finally bows out of the Coast Guard service.

Vice Admiral Garcia is a graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy and a license master mariner. He is the current Executive Director of the National Coast Watch Center (NCWC), under the Office of the President; and the Chairperson of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Governing Council, based in Singapore.

He earned his Masters of Science degree in Maritime Safety Administration from the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmo, Sweden and Masters in Shipping Management from the Philippine Merchant Academy (PMMA).

Garcia earned his doctorate degree in Philosophy in Public Administration from Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and was conferred a doctorate degree in Humanities (Honoris Causa) by the Sulu State College for his humanitarian services. Likewise, he is a professor in Maritime Administration and Environmental Economics subjects in the PMMA Graduate School.

Moreover, Garcia served as the Chairman of the Committee on Islamic Religious Studies and at the same time a member of the Technical Panels in Humanities and Maritime Education, respectively, of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) from 2003-2010.

He commanded capital ships from the navy and the coast guard, held key positions at the headquarters and likewise led four coast guard districts, two functional commands and two major support commands.

"The Command is very thankful to the President for choosing a visionary leader who cares for the welfare of his subordinates and is passionate in accomplishing the PCG's mandates," PCG Spokesperson Captain Armando Balilo said.

Balilo said that the PCG is also grateful for the outgoing Commandant, Admiral Elson E Hermogino PCG, for steering the organization in achieving great feats towards the advancement of the Command. (PIA-NCR)

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