The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is placed on a heightened alert on Monday, Oct. 24, in preparation for the anticipated increase in the number of port passengers who will visit their dearly departed for the commemoration of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Nov. 1 and 2 respectively.
Adm. Artemio Abu, PCG Commandant, said the alert will last until Nov. 3 as he directed all Coast Guard operating units to secure travelers who will go to cemeteries, columbariums, and memorial parks to be with their loved ones as well as visitors who will flock to tourist destinations during the holiday break.
Abu said all PCG districts will conduct 24/7 operations to monitor nautical highways routes, especially in the Visayas where majority of tourist destinations are situated.
He said he also ordered concerned units to ensure maritime security and safety in the western and eastern seaboards, and inter-island routes where uptick in sea trips are expected.
The western seaboard includes the provinces of Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Iloilo, and Zamboanga regions. Meanwhile, the easters seaboard covers Manila, Bicol region, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao provinces.
PCG deployable response groups (DRGs) and PCG Auxiliary volunteers were also deployed to augment security operations, he added.
“We have maritime security inspectors in port terminals, law enforcement teams in strategic locations, maritime patrol teams in critical vicinity waters, and DRGs on standby for possible search and rescue missions during maritime incidents or emergencies,” Abu said.
The PCG also intensified its coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PCA) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to ensure the performance of vessel safety and security inspections onboard the vessels and remind port passengers to obey Covid-19 safety protocols.
“We encourage our port passengers and tourists to remain vigilant during their trip and to report to authorities any suspicious baggage or person for immediate action,” Abu said.
Cemeteries, columbariums, and memorial parks will be opened to the public this year for Undas after these areas were closed by the government in the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.