BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) station in Northern Negros Occidental is preparing for a surge in sea travelers during Holy Week.
A “heightened alert” status would be raised starting Friday, March 24, according to Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio, PCG-Northern Negros Occidental station chief.
He instructed his personnel to check their assets such as boats to ensure they are operational.
PCG personnel will be posted in various ports such as the BREDCO and Banago ports in this city, as well as the ports in the cities of Sagay, Escalante and San Carlos and those in the towns of Pulupandan and E.B. Magalona.
As early as now, Mercurio said, they are seeing a steady increase in the influx of boat passengers.
The PCG has also started checking various beach resorts; it expects aninflux of beachgoers for the Holy Week.
Mercurio said they are making sure every resort has a lifeguard with appropriate training.
“All lifeguards should renew their (training) certificates annually,” he said.
PCG is the leading agency that trains and oversees the capabilities of lifeguards./PN
