President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Vice Admiral Joel S. Garcia as the 28th commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In a letter of appointment signed by the President last October 21, Garcia, who is currently PCG deputy commandant for administration, is set to assume the position on October 24 after Admiral Elson Hermogino finally bows out of the Coast Guard service.
Garcia is a graduate of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) and a licensed master mariner. He is the current executive director of the National Coast Watch Center under the Office of the President, and chairperson of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Governing Council based in Singapore.
He earned his Master’s of Science degree in Maritime Safety Administration from the World Maritime University in Malmo, Sweden, and Master’s in Shipping Management from PMMA.
Garcia also earned his doctorate degree in Philosophy, majoring in Public Administration, from Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, and was conferred a doctor’s degree in the Humanities by the Sulu State College for his humanitarian services. He is a professor of Maritime Administration and Environmental Economics at the PMMA Graduate School.
Moreover, Garcia served as the chairman of the Committee on Islamic Religious Studies and at the same time was a member of the technical panels in Humanities and Maritime Education of the Commission on Higher Education from 2003-2010.
Garcia commanded ships from the Navy and the Coast Guard, held key positions at the headquarters, and 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 in a statement.
Balilo said PCG is also grateful to Hermogino for his service.
