Transfer of Philippine Coast Guard to President's Office

Executive Order No. 475 recognizes the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as an agency created and established as a major unit of the Philippine Navy pursuant to Republic Act No. 5173.
Executive Order No. 475 points to the continuity of the PCG as a major subordinate unit of the Philippine Navy under Section 54, Chapter 8, Subtitle II, Title VIII, Book IV of EO 292 (Administrative Code of 1987).
Executive Order No. 475 invokes the President’s continuing authority to reorganize the Office of the President under Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of EO 292.
Executive Order No. 475 directs that the PCG continues safety and marine-environment functions under Republic Act No. 5173 and cited Presidential Decrees PD 600, PD 601, PD 602, and PD 979 (as amended).

Executive Order No. 475 mandates the placement of the PCG under the Office of the President to better pursue rationalization of Philippine maritime administration.
Executive Order No. 475 aims to improve coordination with the private sector and with different departments and agencies of government that require PCG services.

Section 1 transfers the PCG from the Philippine Navy, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of National Defense to the Office of the President.
Section 2 preserves the PCG’s status as the agency primarily responsible for maritime safety and marine environmental protection through its existing legal mandate.

Section 2 provides that the PCG continues as the agency primarily responsible for promotion of safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment.
Section 2 anchors PCG responsibility on Republic Act No. 5173, and the maritime and related legal authorities referenced in PD 600, PD 601, PD 602, and PD 979 (as amended).

Section 3 creates a Transition and Liquidation Committee.
Section 3 sets the committee composition as: DOTC as Chairman, Philippine Navy, PCG, Department of Budget and Management, and the Office of the President as members.
Section 3 requires each agency to designate its respective representatives to the committee.
Section 3 directs the committee to recommend to the President the necessary plans and measures to effect the transfer within 30 days from the signing of this Executive Order.
Section 3 tasks the committee to undertake the appropriate inventory and disposition of all PCG properties.

Section 4 provides that current appropriations of the PCG and assets presently under PCG’s possession, supervision, or control are deemed PCG properties for purposes of the transfer.
Section 4 expressly includes PCG properties such as vessels, watercraft, firearms, armaments, munitions, communications and electronic equipment, vehicles, buildings, real estate, and lighthouses.
Section 4 transfers the properties and their records to the PCG.

Section 5 provides that any appropriations needed to carry out Executive Order No. 475 that are appropriated for the PCG at the time of approval shall continue in subsequent Annual General Appropriations Acts.
Section 5 requires that thereafter the PCG shall prepare its own budget as a Key Budgetary Item (KBI).

Section 6 provides that PCG uniformed personnel continue to receive the same base pay, longevity pay, and other allowances and benefits as authorized for corresponding AFP grades and ranks.
Section 6 provides that PCG uniformed personnel remain covered by PD 1638 (AFP Retirement Law), as amended, until the PCG establishes its own retirement system.
Section 6 conditions retirement-system transition on a regime and timetable agreed upon by the Committee.

Section 7 repeals or modifies all Executive Orders, Rules and Regulations, or parts thereof contrary to or inconsistent with Executive Order No. 475.