Manila: Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has been appointed as Auxiliary Vice Admiral of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary (PCGA), marking her as the first female Cabinet member under the Marcos administration to attain a three-star rank within the organization. This significant achievement was officially recognized during a donning and oath-taking ceremony led by PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan at the Department of Budget and Management's (DBM) central office in Manila. According to Philippines News Agency, Pangandaman expressed optimism that her new role would motivate more women to step into leadership positions and make impactful contributions. The PCGA, a civilian volunteer arm of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), acknowledged Pangandaman and 12 other DBM officials for their substantial support in humanitarian efforts. They were honored with the PCGA Merit Medal and Ribbon for their contributions to medical and dental missions, as well as various community programs. The DBM highlighted that the P CGA is a core member of the Dugtong Buhay Movement, a humanitarian initiative founded by Pangandaman to encourage voluntary blood donation. The PCGA supports this initiative by providing donors and medical teams for donor screening, helping the movement collect over 3,300 units of blood. Pangandaman emphasized the collaboration between the DBM and the PCG, stating, "The DBM and the PCG are not just collaborators in governance - we are family, bound by the same mission to uphold the welfare of our nation, serve our people, and create a more secure and resilient Philippines." She praised the PCGA for empowering women to assume leadership roles in fields traditionally dominated by men. Currently, approximately 15,000 women are part of the PCG, with 4,200 of them being Muslims. PCG Commandant Ronnie Gil Gavan congratulated Pangandaman and expressed pride in seeing a fellow Mindanaoan achieve such a high rank, noting the inspiration it provides in challenging gender norms in professional roles. The ceremony als o recognized other DBM officials for their exemplary service. DBM Undersecretaries Wilford Will Wong and Goddess Hope Libiran were promoted to Auxiliary Rear Admirals of the PCGA, while Assistant Secretaries Diana Camacho-Mercado and Ramon Vicente Asuncion were appointed to the PCGA Executive Squadron with the honorary rank of Auxiliary Commodore. Pangandaman commended these officers, affirming that their dedication and exemplary service reflect the core values of the Department of Budget and Management.