The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has mobilized 17,000 frontline personnel to conduct pre-departure inspections in major ports and terminals for the Holy Week, an official said Tuesday, April 15.
Commander Michael John Encina, PCG deputy spokesperson, said the Coast Guard has ramped up its security operations in major transportation hubs across the country as it raised its status to “heightened alert” to ensure a safe and smooth travel experience for travelers amid the Holy Week exodus.
“Wala naman po tayong namo-monitor pa na mga vessel na hindi naabot iyong safety standard (We have not monitored any vessel that did not pass the safety standard). Before they conduct their voyages, we ensure that we have coast guard personnel deployed to conduct the pre-departure inspection,” he said.
From 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday, the PCG already recorded more than 146,000 inbound and outbound passengers in all seaports across the country.
Encinas said Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Vince Dizon directed the PCG, Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to keep a close eye on vessels that are engaged in overloading of passengers and cargoes.
“We do not allow, particularly for us in the Philippine Coast Guard, any acts of overloading both in passenger and cargo [vessels],” he stressed.
He said the PCG had established close coordination with shipping owners to remind them not to take advantage of the exodus of passengers by overloading the vessels for extra buck.
Among the busiest ports being guarded by the PCG include the North Harbor in Manila, as well as ports in Batangas, Cebu, and Zamboanga among others.
Apart from this, the PCG has also been conducting safety checks in beach resorts and other recreational areas to ensure that they have authorized lifeguards with medical clinics and first aid responders.
The agency warned of an increase in the number of drowning incidents during the Holy Week break as Filipinos go swimming to spend time with their families and friends.
PCG auxiliary personnel and K-9 units were deployed to Malasakit Help Desks and resorts for inspections.
PCG ships are also on alert and ready to respond in any maritime incident, Encinas said.
JICA support
Meanwhile, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and PCG signed a “Record of Discussions” for a new technical cooperation aimed at enhancing the maritime safety and security capability of the PCG.
The record was signed by PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan and JICA Chief Representative Baba Takashi at the PCG headquarters in Manila on Tuesday.
JICA’s new technical cooperation project with PCG, which will be implemented from 2025 to 2028, will focus on enhancing the coast guard’s capability on operation and maintenance of vessels and criminal investigation through development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines.
It can be recalled that JICA previously supported the delivery of ten 44-meter and two 97-meter multi-role response vessels (MRRVs) for the PCG, and further provided financing for the acquisition of additional five 97-meter MRRVs.
With the continuous increase of PCG vessels, Representative Baba emphasized the necessity for an “effective operation and maintenance [of these vessels] to effectively address contemporary maritime challenges and continuously protect the nation and lives of Filipinos.”
To support other areas of PCG’s operations, training programs on various areas such as maritime domain awareness, search and rescue, disaster prevention, traffic safety, forensics, and arresting techniques, among others, will be conducted to improve the knowledge and skills of Coast Guard personnel.
“JICA’s support has been instrumental in helping the Philippine Coast Guard evolve into a more capable, modern and professional maritime law enforcement agency,” Gavan said.
In addition to providing MRRVs and technical cooperation projects, JICA has extended various support to PCG as early as the 1990s.
This includes the dispatch of maritime experts, short-term trainings, scholarship programs, and provision of various equipment, which shows the full commitment of JICA to improve the capacity of PCG comprehensively.