The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) formally accepted the donation of a "first multi-mission and humanitarian" vessel in a turnover ceremony at South Harbor, Manila on Tuesday.

M/V Amazing Grace, which was donated by the Philippine Red Cross, will be used by PCG for "enhancing its capability to provide medical and humanitarian assistance to remote communities, particularly in coastal areas".

"It will be the first of its kind, a multi-mission vessel for transport and humanitarian", PCG Commandant and Admiral Ronnie Gavan stated in a press conference.

Gavan said that the vessel will be significant for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) tasks.

"It's very significant on the HADR (Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Response) ... (as) there are areas that are unreachable by land and there are heavy cargo that can't be transported by air. So we're an archipelagic and maritime country so having this kind of logistics is indispensable for us ", Gavan added.

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chairman and former Senator Richard Gordon said that the vessel was donated as the PCG "has enough manpower to run it".

"We will be working in synergy with each other actually it's not a lost love for the (Philippine) Red Cross as we will be working together when we use the vessel" Gavan said

The PCG also received the donation of 100 units of Starlink kits from Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) and two Barracuda RHIBs (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats) donated by Grab Philippines Incorporated through the effort of the First Lady Marie Louise Araneta - Marcos.

The ceremony was graced by the First Lady, Gordon, Gavan and Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon. Marie Manalili/DMS