BY MARY JOY CAVAÑAS
ILOILO City – Scant resources are making it challenging for the Philippine Coast Guard to address the porous security of this city’s seaports and coastal areas.
Drug traffickers thus find it easy to come in, making the city their major entry point.
Mayor Jerry Treñas acknowledged the gaps in current security measures, particularly the coastguard’s shortage of drug-sniffing dogs crucial for monitoring activities at the ports.
The city government will help, he said.
“The coastguard is struggling with insufficient canine units. These dogs play a vital role in detecting drugs, often smuggled through roll-on/roll-off ships and fishports,” Treñas said.
The limitations of existing canine units, in terms of their operational hours, were also brought into focus.
The dogs have a limited working capacity, needing rest after certain hours, as per the coastguard’s report. This limits their effectiveness in continuous monitoring, said Treñas.
Addressing the strategic position of Iloilo City as a gateway, the mayor said, the metro’s location makes it an ideal entry point even for illegal substances.
“Ang Iloilo City gateway. Pagsulod mo diri, makasulod ka na sa Iloilo province, Aklan, Antique, Guimaras…Ang airport ta damo man nagasakay kay te gateway kita,” Treñas stressed.
This geographical factor significantly contributes to the challenges in security, he said.
“We are committed to working closely with the coastguard and the police to strengthen our drug enforcement operations. This includes exploring ways to augment canine units and enhancing surveillance and inspection protocols at the ports,” said Treñas.
The mayor also underscored the need for rigorous testing of the increased volumes of confiscated drugs, and called for heightened community vigilance and cooperation in these efforts.
The city government is dedicated to addressing these security lapses, he stressed, recognizing the importance of effective measures to safeguard ports against illegal drug trafficking./PN
