The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has partnered with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to mechanize port-handling services at hubs to reduce their personnel’s exposure to COVID-19 in doing manual hauling of relief goods, said PPA over the weekend.

As of Jan. 7, about 94 PCG personnel have tested positive from COVID-19, majority of whom are members of its Task Force Kalinga and crew members of Coast Guard ships.

They were safely transported to the PCG Quarantine Facility at the Coast Guard Base Taguig for medical assistance.

For this reason, PCG Rear Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, Task Force Kalinga Commander, requested the PPA to help on cargo operations to ensure the unhampered relief transport mission.

The PCG – PPA partnership on relief transport mission will help minimize chances of the crew of Coast Guard ships who come from Manila, the epicenter of the prevailing surge, to become possible spreaders of the contagious virus, according to PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Leopoldo V. Laroya.

As of Friday, Jan. 7, PCG vessels and air assets have transported a total of 1,218.4 tons of relief goods.

PCG Auxiliary (PCGA) aircraft and private vessels that are part of the said mission have ferried 593.5 tons of supplies, bringing the tally to 1,811.9 tons of transported relief goods and critical supplies to support the rehabilitation of the affected families of Typhoon Odette.

The PCG, through the Task Force Kalinga, continues to utilize its available assets and resources to help in the recovery of typhoon-stricken regions including MiMaRoPa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and Caraga.