Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 7 no. 7 (2026)

Assessing the Philippine Coast Guard's Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) Procedures: Operational Status, Influencing Factors, and Challenges

Benjamin A. Misador

Discipline: Law

 

Abstract:

This study assessed the operational status, influencing factors, and challenges encountered in the implementation of the Philippine Coast Guard's Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) procedures for mari- time law enforcement. Specifically, it examined the status of VBSS pro- cedures in terms of operators' capability, technology application, pro- cedural adherence, and legal compliance, as well as the effectiveness of VBSS implementation and the challenges encountered by operators. The study employed a mixed-methods research design using a conver- gent parallel approach. Quantitative data were collected from 305 Phil- ippine Coast Guard operators directly involved in VBSS operations, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured inter- views with 18 interview participants composed of 15 operational offic- ers/team leaders and three legal experts. Data were analyzed using de- scriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that VBSS procedures were generally implemented effectively. Operators demonstrated high levels of capability, procedural adherence, and legal compliance, while technology application emerged as the area requir- ing the greatest improvement due to limitations in operational equip- ment and technological resources. The qualitative findings further identified challenges related to resource constraints, operational con- ditions, and legal and procedural concerns affecting VBSS implementa- tion.The study concludes that strengthening operators' capability, en- hancing technological resources, and sustaining procedural and legal compliance are essential to improving VBSS implementation. It recom- mends continuous competency-based training for operators, moderni- zation of operational resources, strengthened legal capability, and en- hanced inter-agency coordination to further improve maritime law en- forcement operations.



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