Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade cited Laroya’s efforts to use all the available resources of the PCG to mitigate the suffering of those who had gone through calamities during his term, most notably amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the onslaught of typhoon “Odette” over Visayas and Mindanao last year.
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade credited former Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Leopoldo Laroya (Ret.) for the continued success of the PGC in its goals.
In his speech at Laroya’s retirement ceremony last February 10, Tugade expressed his “sincere gratitude” for the former commandant for his long years of dedication and public service.
“Binigyan mo ang bayan at tao ng maraming taong serbisyo na nag-contribute ng malaki sa pagkakaroon ng isang matatag na bansa. Ang ibinigay mong serbisyo ang naging isa sa malaking kadahilanan kung bakit ang Philippine Coast Guard ay narating ang kanyang narating nitong mga nakaraang taon,” the transportation chief said.
“Nakita ko [kung paano] magmahal si Commandant Laroya sa bayan, naramdaman ko ang kanyang pagmamahal sa PCG, nakikita ko yung kanyang lakas at pagmamahal sa Poong Maykapal,” Tugade added.
The secretary cited Laroya’s efforts to use all the available resources of the PCG to mitigate the suffering of those who had gone through calamities during his term, most notably amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the onslaught of typhoon “Odette” over Visayas and Mindanao last year.
“Nakita ko ‘yung love niya lalo't higit noong dumating ‘yung pandemya at dumaan ‘yung Bagyong Odette na kung saan malaki at marami ang nasalanta. Nandoon si Commandant Laroya, sa harapan at nangunguna sa kanyang hanay at sinasabing ang Pilipino ay nangangailangan ng tulong, kalinga, relief and rescue,” Tugade said.
The transportation secretary also recalled Laroya’s efforts to set up a “one-stop-shop” for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“In the short moment of time where he has done much, ngayon makikita mo ang PCG hindi lang sa baybayin o karagatan, makikita mo sa bawat sulok ng bansa, sa bawat bagyo at unos, pati na sa airport at kalsada makikita mo ang PCG,” he stressed. “Sa napakaikling panahon, patuloy ang kanyang commitment upang maisulong at maisabay sa pangangailangan ng panahon ang kanyang sinumpaang tungkulin.”
Vice-Admiral Eduardo Fabricante will replace Laroya as officer in charge of the PCG, the DOTr has announced last Friday (February 11).
Tags: #DepartmentofTransportation, #PhilippineCoastGuard, #ArthurTugade, #LeopoldoLaroya, #retirement