THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be on heightened alert for the Christmas season from Dec. 13, 2024 to Jan. 6, 2025.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan has instructed all PCG districts, stations and sub-stations to intensify security and safety measures on all ports and ferry terminals.
This is in line with the directive of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista to ensure safe, smooth and convenient sea transportation during the Christmas season.
The Philippine Coast Guard gears up for a heightened alert status during Christmas. PHOTO FROM PCG
This also ensures the orderly operations of sea transport facilities, convenient travel of the seafaring public, peaceful celebration of Christmas, and security of tourists in beach and private resorts nationwide.
“Our kababayans have long been waiting for this season to spend quality time with their families and loved ones, either at their home provinces or in various vacation spots. Thus, we are anticipating and preparing for the high volume of maritime traffic,” Gavan said.
“We conduct 24/7 monitoring of nautical highways routes, especially in the Visayas where most tourist destinations are. Rest assured, we will ensure maritime security and safety on our western and eastern seaboard, including inter-island routes. Our deployable response groups and the PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) are ready for these operations,” he added.
Western seaboard monitoring includes Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Iloilo and the Zamboanga regions.
Meanwhile, Eastern seaboard monitoring covers Manila, Bicol Region, Samar, Leyte and Surigao provinces.
Gavan urged fellow Coast Guardians to exercise vigilance in inspecting passengers and luggage to ascertain travel safety and security, with medical teams ready to assist during emergencies.
Coast Guard K9 units and security teams shall conduct strict inspections in passenger terminals and onboard ships to ensure safe and convenient port operations.
PCG personnel shall patrol maritime tourist destinations, ready to augment lifeguards and first responders to uphold public safety.
“We have safety inspectors in port terminals, law enforcement teams in strategic tourist vacation spots, patrol teams in critical vicinity waters, and deployable response groups on standby for additional security augmentations and rescue missions as the need arises,” Gavan said.
The PCG also intensifies collaboration with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), specifically in performing vessel safety and security inspections on board vessels and reminding port passengers to remain vigilant and alert during their sea travel.
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