CEBU CITY—The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) issued health and safety protocols that will be strictly enforced in all seaports in Cebu after Cebu City was placed under general community quarantine starting August 1.
CPA General Manager Leonilo Miole said CPA-Administrative Order #03 compels all port users to strictly comply with the safety guidelines.
The AO prohibits any person not wearing face mask or improper wearing of face mask inside the port area, crowding or non-observance of social distancing, refusal to undergo temperature check, refusal to properly wash or disinfect hands prior to entering any offices or port facility.
Miole went on that the order also monitors people spreading false information or fake news related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that may cause panic among port users and port clients. Persons who refuse to comply with any directives of the Authority and other law enforcement agents on the observance of proper health and safety protocols inside the port premises are sanctioned with penalties and or fines.
“We will also deploy our Safe Distancing Marshals and Port Police Officers to effectively enforce the guidelines in all ports under the administration of CPA and these protocols and guidelines apply to all private port and those port operated by local government units,” Miole added.
First-time violators of the port safety protocol are fined P200.00 and if they are caught the second and third time, the penalty increases to P500 and P1,000 respectively. The guidelines and penalties cover not only for port users and clients abut all CPA employees, Agency-hired and Non-Organic Employees such as Security Personnel assigned in all port terminals and offices.
According to the guidelines, the Port Safety, Security, and Environment Department shall be directly in charge or responsible for the enforcement of the health and safety protocols while department heads, division managers, and section chiefs shall likewise be directly responsible for enforcing all protocols within their respective offices and among their subordinates.
Miole said that those who fail to comply and implement the order are subjected to administrative sanctions such as suspension, termination or non-renewal of contracts with the CPA.