Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan expressed confidence that last August 11's collision between Chinese vessels in Scarborough Shoal is "very unlikely" to happen to Philippine ships.

"Collision avoidance is always the priority of the Coast Guard. So we invest in training and we have very good coordination of our partner agencies, so it is very unlikely to happen to us," he told reporters in an interview aboard BRP Gabriela Silang following the media appreciation day ceremony on Thursday.

"Our sailors are very good. They are very well trained and we always talk with our counterparts whether they are from the (Philippine) Navy or from (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) BFAR so it cannot happen, very unlikely. And by the way we have mastered the capacity to remain calm to remain professional at the same time unyielding in the way we do our role in the West Philippine Sea," he added.

It can be recalled that last Aug. 11, a Chinese Coast Guard ship was severely damaged after it collided with a People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessel while chasing a PCG ship at the vicinity waters of Scarborough Shoal.

Gavan added that the PCG is conducting a lot of training to ensure that their ships are manned by best sailors.

"Any event in this planet you cannot say with certainty, that it will not but we have undertaken all the measures to prevent or to avoid so we are doing lots of training and training and training so we are assured that we have the best sailors on board our ships," he said

"Yes, we have, one of the best sailors in this country and I am very proud and we are maintaining the very good relationship with the Navy with BFAR and other partners that we have," the commandant added.

Aside from its regular training activities, The Philippine Coast Guard is also conducting maritime exercises with its counterparts from Japan, United States, Vietnam and others. Robina Asido/DMS