Maritime Domain Awareness

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is a comprehensive information, intelligence and knowledge of all relevant entities within the Philippine maritime domain, and their respective activities, that could affect the country’s security, safety, economy, or environment. The Philippine maritime domain encompasses all of the following:

• Philippine ports
• Inland waterways
• Harbors
• Navigable rivers
• Lakes
• Territorial seas
• Contiguous waters
• Customs waters
• Coastal seas
• Littoral areas
• Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) maritime approaches
• High seas
• Other Philippine interests

The MDA community is composed of coast guard service, relevant, military services, national and local agencies with responsibilities in the Philippine maritime domain. Because risks and interests are common to government, businesses and citizens alike, community membership also includes public, private and commercial stakeholders, as well as foreign Governments and international organizations. Qualified auxiliarists may participate in MDA, as directed by the Coast Guard.

Support Missions for the Coast Guard

Auxiliarists augment Coast Guard units by providing a variety of administrative and operational support. One general goal is for auxiliarists participation in Coast Guard unit activities to help allow Coast Guard unit commanders to redirect Coast Guard active duly personnel to conduct law enforcement missions or other missions inappropriate for auxiliarists. The relationship must be made clear between the auxiliarists assigned to such duties, the Auxiliary organization, and the Coast Guard unit to which the auxiliarist is assigned.

The following policies apply when assigning auxiliarists to provide administrative or operational support at a Coast Guard unit:

• Auxiliarists must inform their respective Squadron Auxiliary Director/Division Auxiliary Chief before accepting Coast Guard unit support missions.
• Auxiliarists must wear a proper uniform while on assigned missions.
• Auxilliarists must report their activities to their immediate superiors.
• While carrying out support missions, no titles are assigned, formally or informally, which imply supervision, direction, or any leadership role over any other Coast Guard member or Coast Guard auxiliarist, unless directed in rare and urgent instances but the Coast Guard unit commander.
• Auxiliarists shall not be vested with any titles or duties which imply or entail law enforcement responsibilities nor shall they carry, handle, repair, or fire or Coast Guard Auxiliary activities. This includes civilian or government employed law enforcement personnel while acting as an auxiliarist. A waiver to this policy may be obtained for the purpose of utilizing qualified auxiliarists as range coaches. Waiver requests shall not be submitted by individual auxiliarists, but rather the operational commander who determines a bonafide need.
• No management capability held by Auxiliary elected and appointed leaders, or duties held by Auxiliary staff members, will be delegated to any other auxiliarists on support missions assigned by any Coast Guard authority.
• Complaints concerning auxiliarist misconduct, while serving on a Coast Guard support mission, must be referred, in writing, to the auxiliarist’s Squadron Auxiliary Director, with a copy to the Coast Guard Station Commander, for appropriate action as recommended or required by any provisions of PCG policies or circular.

Additional Programs

The Commander may authorize additional Coast Guard programs for auxiliarists/Auxiliary participation. When specifically authorized by the Commandant, Auxiliary programs and activities may become international, extending beyond the Philippines, its territories and possessions. The Commandant must approve new non-traditional programs in advance.

Programs Not Authorized for Auxiliarists

Auxiliarists and Auxiliary units are not authorized to directly engage or participate in any program or activity espousing political interests or in any business activity for personal gains in the name of PCG and/or PCGA.