Davao City (28 November) -- The relationship that the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA) has forged with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is cited as one of the most successful tie-up between a volunteer group and a government entity.

Rear Admiral Danilo Abinoja, PCG deputy commander in a PCGA District Convention in Davao City bared that even the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) leadership wanted to know how PCGA and PCG have "successfully" worked on their relationship.

As a national director of PCGA, Abinoja said he would be giving an update regarding the PCGA structure to AFP Chief of Staff Hermogenes Esperon who got interest to know the working relationship between PCGA and PCG.

Meanwhile, Abinoja positively noted efforts of the South-eastern Mindanao District of PCGA to strengthen its relationship with PCG.

However, he urged PCGA to give focus on marine concerns including safety of life and property at sea as this had been the domain on which its assistance had been called for.

On the other hand, Commodore Margie M. Floirendo, PCGA district commander of Southeastern Mindanao wanted her command to give focus on youth development and good governance aside from pushing forward the advocacy on Davao Gulf and Sarangani Bay protection and the fight against marine pollution.

Noting that the youth will soon be taking over the helm of PCGA leadership, Ms. Floriendo wanted PCGA to do its part to help "remove them (the youth) from exposure to drugs and instead bring their energies to environmental protection."

She also wanted the Southeastern Mindanao District of PCGA to promote good governance and values formation for responsible leadership.

She challenged PCGA officers and members who mostly are executives in their field of endeavor, to show good examples and to do away from acts that would tarnish their good emerge as leaders.

In her speech during the district convention, Ms. Moran disclosed various activities that her district command through the Save Davao Gulf Foundation Inc., had undertaken.

The foundation to which she also sits as the president emeritus, conducted forum and paralegal workshop-seminars on fishery law enforcement taken part by 10 coastal barangays in Davao City in partnership with the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE).

It also conducted environmental mapping training in partnership with FPE as it also had continuously monitored water quality of the Davao Gulf.

In partnership with the Philippine Information Agency, it initiated the Davao Gulf Forum which had become a venue for a bi-monthly media exposure, aimed at enhancing public consciousness on the importance of coastal resources and other marine concerns.

The Project L.I.F.E (Learning Independently For the Environment) came about through organizing seascouts in Davao City, Davao del Note, Davao del Sur and Davao Oriental in partnership with Worldwide Fund (WWF).

Recognized by the Department of Education (DepEd) of Region 11, Project L.I.F.E. is a roving education van that tours coastal communities and schools, equipped with audio-visual equipment and exhibit materials that feature basic issues and concerns of the Philippine Marine Environment.

Implemented on January 13 and ended on March 16 this year, the project covered four cities and 18 municipalities around Davao Gulf and visited 92 elementary and secondary schools, benefiting a total of 13,278 students.