MABALACAT CITY The Philippine Coast Guard is now building a K9 unit academy in this component city of Pampanga.

Commodore Allen Dalangin, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) K9 Force Commander, recently led the inspection of the ongoing construction of the PCG-Philippine Ports Authority PPA K9 Academy at a 10-hectare land area in Barangay Dolores, Mabalacat City

Once operational, the PCG-PPA K9 Academy shall serve as the country’s center for comprehensive and advanced training for all Coast Guard working dogs and their handlers.

The canine training school intends to produce K9 units that are highly efficient in search and rescue (SAR), threat detection, and fugitive apprehension.

The academy will also cater to future K9 units the PPA will recruit and integrate into the government corporation.

The government is expected to save P30 million of its annual budget in hiring private working dogs and K9 handlers to maintain port security.