The
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was created under Republic Act 5173. Its mandates are: a) To enforce all applicable laws upon the high seas and territorial
waters of the Philippines, and b) To enforce laws, promulgate and administer regulations for marine environmental protection
of the territorial waters of the Philippines.
We,
the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), are here to assist the force of the Philippine Coast Guard being the government body as mandated above.
Auxiliarists are dedicated and civic-spirited individuals committed to serve for a noble cause. Auxiliarists receive seminars
and special trainings so that they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. PCGA assist the Coast Guard in non-law
enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, search and rescue, and environmental protection. Join us
Brief History
of the 1001st Squadron
Coast
Guard District Northern Mindanao (CGDNM), formerly the 10th PCGA District, started with the activation of the 202nd PCGA Squadron sometime in 1992. It was designated as 202nd Squadron
since it was then under the 2nd PCGA district based in Cebu City, under former Commodore now VADM Matias B. Aznar
III PCGA; who served as 2nd PCGA District Commander and PCGA National Commander, in concurrent capacity.
The
202nd PCGA squadron was composed of volunteers from Cagayan de Oro City and Ozamis City under the command of Captain
now RADM Casimiro B. Juarez, Jr. The squadron membership was later on expanded to include volunteers form Ozamis City.
In 1993,
the 203rd PCGA Squadron based on Ozamis City was activated, making the Ozamis group independent from the 202nd
Squadron. Thereafter, the Iligan PCGA Squadron was activated.
In 1998,
with the activation of the 10th PCG District, the 10th PCGA District was created under the command of
RADM Casimiro B. Juarez, Jr., PCGA as district commodore. Because of this, the Northern Mindanao Squadrons were designated
as follows: Cagayan de Oro City, the 1001st; Ozamis City, the 1002nd; Iligan City, the 1003rd.
Designated as Squadron commanders were Capt. Edgardo B. de Veyra, PCGA for the 1001st; Capt. Rene A. Maglasang,
PCGA for the 1002nd and Capt. Tom S. Laya, PCGA for the 1003rd. Two PCGA Squadrons were later on activated
namely: the 1004th of Surigao City and 1005th of Butuan City under Capt. Felix S. Villacastin, PCGA
as Squadron commander. This year, the Dipolog/Dapitan Squadron was transferred to the 10th PCGA District as the
1006th under Capt. Ramon Ike D. Gamalinda. Thereafter, the 1004th of Surigao was recognized with Capt.
Alfonso Casurra, PCGA as Squadron commander.
With the renaming of the PCG Districts from a numerical to geographical order,
the PCGA Districts followed suit. Thus, the 10th PCGA District is now called Coast Guard Auxiliary District Northern
Mindanao (CGDANM).
From a number of members, it now boasts of over a hundred active members
from various professions.