German Foreign Minister visits GIZ-Philippine Coast Guard drone project

The German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock and her Delegation, went to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Headquarters in Manila City, to learn first-hand how the PCG is using the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones. 

The drones were donated by the Federal Republic of Germany in 2022 as part of the German Federal Foreign Office-funded Project “Support to the PCG in Securing the Rules-based International Order in the Indo-Pacific,” implemented by GIZ in the Philippines.

The drones are being used to assess post calamity-damage in coastal areas. Together with German Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr. Andreas Pfaffernoschke, Mrs. Baerbock was given a demonstration on flying the drone, and a tour of the Command ship, after which she mentioned that more drones will be coming for the PCG. The GIZ - PCG Project aims to strengthen maritime law enforcement and security capabilities through the procurement of technical equipment, capacity development measures and the development and implementation of operational guidelines.

After the briefing at the PCG, Mrs. Baerbock proceeded to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Office for a Roundtable Discussion with key Philippine Government officials from TESDA, the Department of Migrant Workers, and heads of German organizations based in Manila for a dialogue on business relations and programs for Filipino workers, in particular, nurses, represented by Ms. Lolita Echalus, a former Triple Win nurse based in Germany who shared her experiences and insights about GIZ’s skilled nurses deployment program.

At the Roundtable, Mrs. Baerbock emphasized that “Politics is not only about foreign ministers, prime ministers and presidents but also seeing how we can implement the ideas and strengthen the cooperation between Germany and the Philippines, specially in the economy and skilled labor.”