CEBU CITY -- The One Cebu Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force has identified seven major ports where security will be tightened and strict surveillance will be conducted to prevent the entry of illegal drugs.
The seven ports were identified after the task force members’ meeting on Friday, Feb. 17, at the Cebu Capitol.
Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia, who spearheaded the creation of the Task Force, presided over the meeting.
With the primary goal of preventing the entry of illegal drugs in the island of Cebu, the task force is composed of 14 government agencies led by the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas.
The identified ports included those in the cities of Bogo and Toledo and in the municipalities of Dalaguete, Santander, Tabuelan, San Remigio, Santa Fe, and in Camotes Islands.
The seven ports were identified based on their passenger heavy traffic and sustained operations.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the task force will form two groups that will monitor the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and seaports separately.
Garcia urged the task force heads to coordinate with the mayors of the areas where the identified ports are located for a unified action.
Garcia also asked the members to continue mapping out strategies for an effective operation.
“Since there are already identified heads of each task force in the seaport and airport, I hope you can continue now to meet on your own and map out strategies on what should be done,” the governor said.