“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is set to receive an additional 4,000 personnel this year, in order to reach a total of 30,000 by year-end.”
Some things to note:
That is almost 75% the size of the US Coast Guard, while the Philippine EEZ is less than 20% of the US.
The Philippine Coast Guard will be considerably larger than the Philippine Navy which has 24,500 active-duty members including 8,300 Marines.

BRP Batangas (SARV-004) in between USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) and BRP Kalanggaman (FPB-2404) in an Exericse held in 2019. For many years, the Australian San Juan and Ilocos Norte vessels were the only major patrol assets in PCG service.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer John Masson)
Until 2020 the Philippine Coast Guard had no large patrol cutters. Their largest ships were two buoy tenders including the former USCGC Redbud, first commissioned in 1944. In fact, they mark the founding of their Coast Guard Fleet only as of 2007.
Beginning in 2020 the Philippine Coast Guard has obtained their first large patrol cutter, the 83 meter BRP Gabriela Silang. In 2022 they obtained two Japanese built 97 meter cutters of the Teresa Magbanua-class (see lead photo). They hope to get many more.
This build-up is obviously in response to Chinese intrusions into the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone.
It appears the Philippine Coast Guard still has no weapons larger than .50 caliber machine guns. It will be interesting to see if this changes.
IMO, the Philippine Coast Guard needs to be upgunned instead of being outgunned. They should have at least a 25 mm gun to a 57 MM gun.
The Philippine Navy might want to see if they could get US surplus 76mm guns. Coast Guard yard still maintains them. The Philippine Navy already has several 76mm.
For the Philippine Coast Guard, they should be looking at getting upgunned to 57mm or 25mm
The Philippine military does not currently use the 57mm and they would have to buy them new and set up a logistics and training system for it.
The 25mm is just not big enough to use for anything beyond signaling.
The Philippine Navy is getting a very impressive twin 35mm to use as a CIWS. It could be a good choice.
I wonder if the Philippine Coast Guard can cross train with the Philippine Navy in using the 76mm gun.