The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) District Palawan installed one Very High Frequency (VHF) radio at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Palawan on 20 September 2022.
The PCG Weapons, Communications, Electronics, and Information System Command (CGWCEISC) also installed one Icom M506 radio in coordination with the Tubbataha Management Office.
According to the PCG District Palawan, these radios expand the coverage of VHF Channel 16 in communicating with arriving and transiting vessels; conducting radio challenges during illegal entries of watercraft, enhancing maritime domain awareness through the built-in Automatic Identification System (AIS); and responding to emergencies through the Digital Selective Calling (DSC) feature.
The newly-installed VHF radio at the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park was one of the 30 VHF radios positioned at different PCG stations, sub-stations, and clearing outposts in Busuanga, Cuyo, Cagayancillo, Balabac, Pag-asa Island, Parola Island, and Panata Island.
The 30th VHF radio will be installed at Mangsee Island, situated in the southernmost portion of Palawan.