BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO and IME SORNITO
ILOILO City – To maintain peace and order in seaports on the days leading to All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Region 6 kicked off its security campaign Oplan Undas Ligtas Biyahe.
PCG Western Visayas is on “full alert”, said Lieutenant Commander Ramil Palabrica, spokesperson.
The coast guard began setting up Passengers Assistance Desks (PADs) in seaports last week yet.
Of particular concern to the PCG are four areas with constantly busy seaports – Dumangas (Iloilo), Caticlan (Malay, Aklan), Guimaras, Lapuz (Iloilo City), and Iloilo Ferry Terminal (Parola, Iloilo City).
Each PAD is manned by a team composed of elements from the PCG, Philippine National Police, Department of Transportation, Philippine Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority, and the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“We urge the sea-traveling public to book early to avoid long queues at seaports,” said Palabrica.
A surge in ship passengers is expected beginning today, he added.
Luggage would be thoroughly inspected.
The carrying of deadly weapons and illegal drugs is not allowed.
Dogs trained to detect illegal drugs, firearms and explosives would be tapped in inspections in major seaports (in Iloilo City; Dumangas, Iloilo; Caticlan, Malay, Aklan).
Palabrica also said PCG- Region 6 has put on standby rescue boats.
He reminded boat/ship operators to comply with safety requirements such as having enough life jackets.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said all the 81 airports it manages across the country are ready for the anticipated influx of passengers when Filipinos visit the graves of their departed loved ones.
In Western Visayas, CAAP oversees the operation of the Kalibo International Airport, Iloilo International Airport, Bacolod–Silay Airport (Silay City, Negros Occidental), Godofredo P. Ramos Airport (Caticlan, Malay, Aklan), Roxas Airport (Roxas City, Capiz), and Evelio Javier Airport (Funda-Dalipe, San Jose de Buenavista, Antique).
“For the last five years, we had an average of seven to 10 percent increase in the number of passengers using both the domestic and international airports in the country,” said CAAP spokesperson Eric Apolonio.
Data from CAAP showed 5,405,889 domestic and international passengers used the country’s airports in November 2017. More than 3,397,000 of these passengers were from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport alone.
Added security will be implemented to ensure safe and convenient operations, Apolonio said.
Medical teams will also be deployed and help desks will be set up at the airports, he added.
Meanwhile, CAAP has coordinated with the Office for Transport Security and the Aviation Security Group to provide better surveillance and baggage screenings.
It has also coordinated with the airlines to ensure swift processes at their check-in counters. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)
