We invite you to visit Coast Guard District Northern Luzon for yourself which sits on a vast 3,000 sqm land in the middle of a cove lined by lengthy mile of a fine beach sand and the quiet, pristine waters of the South China Sea. A stunning million-dollar view of the sunset is reward in itself after a long hot day.
It is home to 184 CG personnel and is located in San Fernando City, La Union. One can virtually find everything here from banks to resorts, malls, food chains, commercial establishments and entertainment facilities.
Coast Guard working in this District is dictated by the geography of Regions 1 and 2 which it covers. It guards the seven (7) provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Nort, Cagayan, Batanes and Isabela. Natural features of these provinces are a common coastline which is lined by cities and municipalities. Many coastal dwellers are naturally fisher folks or have resorts as their means of earning a living. Unfortunately year-round unpredictable gale winds and seasonal tropical storms may wreak havoc to these tranquil lands. In existence also are long interlacing river systems that incidences of drowning are quite common. It is not surprising that folks here have witnessed, as seen televised, actual search and rescue operations conducted over the years. There are about 1 to 2 or more SAR operation per month because LGUs have come to depend on our search and rescue capabilities. Likewise, invitations to attend disaster-related preparedness and response conferences have steadily risen over the past months.
The nearness of Taiwan to Northern Luzon also poses a threat that distinctly belongs only to this District. Folks in Cagayan have become used to the inherent presence of lawless Taiwanese fishing vessels involved in smuggling of goods, illegal fishing and poaching. The presence of MCS-3001, 3005 and 3006 water vessels in the area are our mighty front liners in the campaign to curb cited forms of maritime criminalities. On 12 and 15 May 2009, these MCS vessels were able to intercept two (2) of these Taiwanese fishing boats. TFB CHIN HONG CHEN and TZU FU TIEN had on board 18 foreign nationals, charged with illegal fishing and poaching, a violation of RA 8550 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998).
Recently, CGDNLZ played host to the first mobile training innovated by CGETC, MARSEC Class 10-09 which is a month-long course was held at the US-standard Training Facility of HCGDNLZ from 06 July to 07 August 2009. A total of 41 students, who are mostly assigned in this District, graduated during the commencement ceremony.
Where MAREP is concerned, again this District has been burdened by 4 incidences of coal spills. These incidents usually happens when coal-carrying barges making deliveries encounter tropical storms or gale winds while in transit to a port within the AOR. Industrial high-quality coals are materials needed by many power plants and cement factories situated in the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union, At present, PCG is providing security to a grounded barged APOL 3001 at the coast of Brgy Suso, Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur. On preservation of mangroves, this District mandatory participates in all the seasonal tree-planting activities of the DENR.
