CEBU CITY –The Cebu Port Authority (PCA) called on the traveling public to secure all the necessary documentations and requirements to travel before coming to the ports as the government geared up for the resumption of travel of locally stranded individuals (LSIs), repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and authorized persons outside residence (APOR).
“Those with incomplete requirements will not be allowed entry in our ports, this is in compliance to the provisions of the National Task Force Order 2020-02 on the Operational Guidelines on the Management of Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) and to prevent terminal congestion given the required 50 percent capacity restrictions set by the COVID-19 Interagency Task Force IATF),” CPA general manager Leonilo Miole said after Cebu City’s quarantine status was downgraded to general community quarantine (GCQ) from August 1 to August 15.
Miole said each passenger will be required to present a medical certificate issued by the City or Municipal Health Office, a travel authority issued by the Philippine National Police (PNP), a letter of acceptance issued by the local chief executive of the receiving local government unit, a boat ticket, and a valid ID or any official document that sufficiently identifies the passenger. These will be presented at the Port Main Entrance of Pier 1 and Pier 3, otherwise, they will be refused entry into the port area.
He said that CPA now requires all LSIs to present letter of acceptance with the above-mentioned requirements to avoid from being stranded at the port terminals just because the LGU of destination refuses to accept them.
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Individuals reporting for work will also need to present their company ID and Certificate of Employment issued by their employers, Miole added.
To manage all arriving LSIs at the Cebu Port, and ensure that social distancing measures are complied, Miole said that all incoming passengers shall be fetched by the CPA buses and the Cebu City Government from the vessels to the staging area located at the back of the Malacañang sa Sugbo.
“This allows the Cebu City Quick Response Team (QRT) to perform health monitoring procedures and wait for LGU shuttle buses to pick them up back to their hometowns or residences,” he explained.
No private cars shall be allowed to pick up incoming passengers, except those with clearance from the city or municipal government, Miole said and well-wishers, welcome parties, idle persons, and those with no legitimate business in the port are not allowed entry into the port or within the immediate vicinity of the port gates.
For passengers coming from Manila, the designated staging area is at Gate 6 Berth 11 with tents, power supply, flushing and swabbing stations installed and facilitated by the Cebu City Government.
Miole welcomed this development and happy that the LSIs can finally return to their hometowns after being stranded here for three months or more. The CPA always appeals for them to strictly comply with all the necessary requirements and to follow all port safety protocols.
CPA also appealed to the LGUs in Cebu to ensure that the LSIs being transported to the port have complete travel documents as required, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter the port. This is to avoid persons being stranded in the port, Miole stated.