Official Biography Of Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo

As Commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard from 01 June 2008 to 22 April 2011, ADMIRAL WILFREDO D TAMAYO PCG exhibited exemplary dedication to his sworn duty as he carried out efficiently and effectively his immense duties and responsibilities. Endowed with high sense of responsibility, professional competence, and technical expertise, ADMIRAL TAMAYO successfully steered the Philippine Coast Guard towards new direction. Leading the PCG to the right course brings the organization the following landmark accomplishments:  

• Setting new direction results to the enactment of Republic Act 9993, otherwise known as the Philippine Coast Guard Law of 2009.

• Awarding of Quality Management System (QMS/ISO 9001:2008 Certification to the Coast Guard Action Center. This makes the PCG the second Coast Guard in the world to be awarded such certification.

• Imbued with administrative and operational expertise, ADMIRAL TAMAYO effectively led five (5) Major Support Commands, ten (10) Districts, fifty-five (55) Stations, three (3) Sub-stations and two hundred seven (207) Detachments towards the virtual attainment of the President’s Zero Casualty Program and relatedly, the SOTC’s Zero Maritime Accident Program.

• Because of his strong commitment to carry out national policies, he immediately responded to the instruction of His Excellency President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III during the onslaught of typhoon Basyang last 14 July 2010 for the PCG to study and develop procedures in notifying or recalling fishermen during severe weather conditions. He initiated the crafting of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), thru the assistance of the DOTC, and held a series of interagency meetings and workshops which led to the approval and signing of said MOA essential to harmonizing and integrating the efforts of 12 government departments and agencies to enhance the safety of fishermen.

• Following the onslaught of typhoon “Frank” in 2008, the PCG, after extensive consultation with PAGASA, partner government agencies, maritime stakeholders and expert groups, developed and formulated an improved sailing regulation for vessels. With the enactment and implementation of PCG Memorandum Circular No. 01-09 entitled, “Guidelines on Movement of Vessels During Heavy Weather”, the new sailing regulation integrated crucial safeguards and innovations to further improve maritime safety in the country including a new PAGASA forecasting graphical representation for easy reference of shipping in every weather bulletin of areas to be avoided by vessels during weather disturbances or typhoons.

• In response to the clamor of the people of Guimaras and Boracay Islands, and considering the unique topographical characteristic of the said areas, the PCG after extensive study, enacted PCG Memorandum Circular 02-10 or the Interim Guidelines on Movement of Vessels and Motorboats Engaged in Short Distance Voyages in Special Areas thereby providing a long time solution to the problem affecting the movement of the populace in the said areas without sacrificing the promotion of safety of life at sea.

• On the 1^st year of tenure of Admiral Tamayo as Commandant, he spearheaded the establishment of Batangas Sealane and Traffic Separation Scheme aimed at regulating maritime traffic for the promotion of safety of navigation and the protection of marine sanctuaries in the area particularly Maricaban Strait.

• Additionally, the PCG performed 1,844 search and rescue (SAR) missions, saved 18,645 lives, recovered 1,046 dead bodies, and provided assistance to more than 2 million persons during SAR, disaster response and maritime security operations. The PCG prominently figured in rescue operations at the height of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng through the deployment of highly-trained rescue divers and medical teams. The Coast Guard Aviation Group also conducted several evacuation missions for thousands of flood victims unreachable by land-based rescue personnel.

• PCG Districts conducted several Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) and Lifesaving and Rubber Boat Handling training courses for LGUs, NGOs, and local communities. Cross-training programs with AFP and PNP units were likewise undertaken. Combined training exercises with Japan Coast Guard on SAR, maritime law enforcement and anti-piracy, with the USN/PN/USCG/PNP-MG on Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercises, and with PN/PNP-MG/CWS and RAN on RP-Australia Maritime Training Activity “MTA LUMBAS” were likewise undertaken.

• During the start of ADMIRAL TAMAYO’s term of office, the PCG significantly improved the overall operational efficiency of its 556 lighthouses to 92%, from a low of 77%, thus continuing to effectively guide mariners and fishermen in their safe voyage to their destinations.

• Admiral Tamayo conceptualized and created the PCG Deployable Response Group (DRG) comprised of SOG, Anti-Terrorist, K9, and MEPU personnel, sea marshals, Special Medical Advance Rescue Teams (SMART), and PCG Auxiliary volunteers as the PCG’s rapid reaction unit in search and rescue, disaster response, and maritime security operations.

• Relatedly, during the height of typhoon Basyang last 13 and 14 July 2010, the PCG successfully averted great danger to the coastal populace and the marine environment thru the efficient supervision and safe handling of salvage operations on the grounded LPG Carrier MT Deborah Uno in Mariveles, Bataan. The PCG also successfully conducted oil spill clean-up operations at Petron Depot in Rosario, Cavite, as well as coal spill clean-up resulting from the grounding of Barge Gold Trans 306 in Nasugbu, Batangas, thus protecting the nearby coastlines and marine resources from serious destruction and safeguarding the very source of livelihood of local fishermen.

• Also, the PCG successfully conducted oil spill containment and clean-up operations for some 100,000 liters of bunker oil reported to have spilled from MV Nam Yang 8 during the rage of typhoon Juan last November 2010, thus preventing further damage in the coastal areas of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

• The PCG has matured into a world-class maritime safety agency, whose competence to perform search and rescue, marine environment protection and vessel safety inspections on foreign ships. It has been regarded above par by no less than the International Maritime Organization in their post audit report after the country underwent the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

• Admiral Tamayo successfully chaired the 4^th Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) in October 2008 and the 11^th Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies Forum (APHOMSA) in June 2010.

• Owing to his dedication to duty, the PCG was recognized internationally when it apprehended international pirates after 3 vessels were taken forcibly by pirates in international waters in two separate occasions. The pirated vessels were recovered intact and turned over to the owners. No less than the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (RECAAP) Information Sharing Center (ISC) based in Singapore, commended the PCG.

• The PCG confiscated a total of 94 firearms, to include fifty (50) high-powered firearms (Israeli-type Galil SSI-VI, Cal. 5.56A-1) from the MV UFUK which was jointly apprehended in Mariveles, Bataan by the PCG and the Bureau of Customs (BUCUS).

• Thru improved CG K9 capability, high-grade cocaine were recovered from several residents in the coastal municipalities of Eastern Samar which accounted for Php362,500,000.00. Seventy-two and a half (72 ½) brick packages of cocaine (weighing 1kg each) believed to have been dumped off the waters of Samar by the crew of a Chinese-registered fishing vessel FV King Yue were recovered. The crew allegedly disposed of the cocaine shipment after being tipped off that authorities were waiting for the arrival of the said fishing vessel in Hong Kong.

• It is also during Admiral Tamayo’s tour of duty that the PCG apprehend a total of fifteen (15) foreign vessels involved in poaching in the different parts of the country together with the vessels’ ninety (90) crew members/ fishermen of different nationalities.

• It is worth mentioning that PCG SAR vessels successfully sustained maritime patrols to protect the country’s right over 8 islands at the Spratlys by assisting said marine survey vessels and ensuring safety, security and environmental protection relative to the government’s contracted oil exploration projects following the reported harassment of the DOE-contracted marine survey vessel MV Veritas Voyager in the vicinity of Reed Bank, Palawan.

• Admiral Tamayo’s deep sense of responsibility has inspired him to establish and serve as the pioneer Commander TF Sea Marshal which continues to operate as strong deterrence against terrorism on board passenger ships.

• Also, he initiated and/or further developed Coast Guard Bases Taguig, Romblon, Mactan, Laguindingan, Farola and Cavite, with the support of the DOTC.

• Admiral Tamayo further developed and ensured that more comprehensive logistics support systems are extended down to the frontline units ashore and afloat such as the Coast Guard Stations, Detachments, OPCON units, and vessels and aircraft deployed in the operational areas.

• His utmost concern for operational effectiveness and morale and welfare of the organization resulted to significant increases in the budgetary allocations of respective units in terms of POL products, repair and utilities (R&U), and mandatory expenditures such as light and water, and communication services, among others.

• The comprehensive and timely issuances of Personal Clothing and Individual Equipment (PCIE) of uniformed personnel and related requirements of civilian employees likewise resulted to greater efficiency and morale and welfare of personnel.

• The equipment and equipage upgrade for specialized and highly-skilled personnel of the DRG such as speedboats, inflatable rubber boats, dive equipment, and major upgrade or rehabilitation of office/billeting quarters/ facilities for CG K9, SOG, FMIT, CG Medical/ Dental, and CG Ready Force (CGRF) have been undertaken.

• Training facilities for Coast Guard Education and Training Command (CGETC) Annex at Coast Guard Base Taguig, Maritime Safety Services Command (MSSC) at Cavite Buoy Base, SOG at CG Base Farola, CG K9 at CG Base Taguig, and CGRF at Pier 13, South Harbor, Manila, have been significantly upgraded.

• Strategic operational facilities such as the Headquarters Philippine Coast Guard (HPCG) Command/ Action Center and respective District and Station Command/ Action Centers, Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Centers in Manila, Batangas, and Misamis Oriental, and the HPCG Boat Ramp, Slipway and Waterfront intended to support the launching/ deployment of Fast Boats/ RHIB/RB/amphibian vehicles’ into the bay, rivers, lake, and other waterways have likewise been upgraded or constructed and manned 24/7.

• In recognizing the role of women in nation building, he enhanced support to the Command’s Gender and Development (GAD) program thru dedicated enlistedwomen barracks/ female officers’ quarters at the HPCG and in every CG District/ Station, and in terms of their training, assignments, promotion, and health maintenance program have been provided.

• It is also during the tour of duty of Admiral Tamayo that the PCG significantly enhanced its maritime communications system through the PCG-Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Communications Systems for Maritime Safety and Security Project and likewise upgraded the communications capability of all CG Stations and Detachments.

• In line with the Command’s cost-saving measures, the repair of Coast Guard capital ships are directly referred to duly accredited shipyards. Likewise, shore-power connections for ships berthed at the HPCG Wharf, CGRF Wharf, and SAR Vessels’ Berthing Facility at Malacañang South Cebu Wharf were installed, thereby enabling the command to save some 30 million pesos every year.

• In order to meet the Command’s various mission requirements, the PCG significantly improved the operational readiness of surface and air assets through credible ships’ and aircraft repair program based on well-established Deployment, Maintenance, Repair and Training (DMRT) Base or DMRT thereby maintaining the high state of readiness of PCG ships and aircraft.

• It bears stressing that the PCG has embarked on greater self-reliance program through in-house repair and training capability employing respective Maintenance and Repair Group (MRG) of CGRF and CGAG, FMIT under the MSSC, MEPCOM Laboratory for water quality testing and/or the conduct of “finger printing” in cases of oil spills, Hazardous Noxious Substances (HNS) and other types of chemical spills, explosive substance detection, breeding/ training of material dogs and introduction of the “ASPINS” (Asong Pinoy) in the CG K9 program; and the Human Resource Development (HRD) program of the Coast Guard Education and Training Command (CGETC).

• The Command has likewise significantly improved medical and dental services for PCG personnel and dependents through decentralization and upgrading of medical and dental clinics/ dispensaries in all Coast Guard Districts.

• In order to strengthen the organization and to attain maximum presence of the PCG in every coastal area, the Command recruited some 2,000 additional personnel and likewise initiated the PCG Cadetship Program through the conduct of MOA with the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA). Under this pilot program of the PCG, 14 PCG cadets have already completed their first year at the PMMA and the next batch of 20 new cadets have already been screened. Through this initiative of the command, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has likewise welcomed PCG nomination of deserving Filipino cadet-candidates to the USCG Academy starting this school year.

By all these laudable achievements and attributes, ADMIRAL TAMAYO PCG earned the respect and admiration of his superiors, peers and subordinates, the Philippine Government and the Filipino people in general. These significant achievements of ADMIRAL TAMAYO have made a positive impact not only for himself but for the Philippine Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation and Communications which is in keeping with the finest tradition of the Coast Guard service.