THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will be on red alert starting next Monday, April 11, to ensure the safety of people going to the provinces during the Holy Week.
During the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, PCG spokesman Commodore Armand Balilo said the PCG is aiming for a zero maritime incident during the Lenten season.
“As part of our preparations, the PCG will be raising its alert status. We are going on heightened alert starting on Monday for our countrymen who will going to the provinces this Lenten season and spend vacation,” said Balido.
“It (heightened alert) is the equivalent of Red Alert. We declared it so our personnel will be ready, they will be available anytime they are needed, so that their level of vigilance will be high,” Balilo said, adding the heightened alert will be observed until the end of Holy Week.
Balilo said PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu wants all units to maintain high-level vigilance, including in beaches where people may converge.
“There should be lifeguards (in these areas), we should also coordinate with local government units to ensure peace and order in the areas where people will go for vacation,” said Balilo.
Meanwhile, Immigration officers assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and other major ports are prohibited from going on leave during and after the Holy Week to ensure adequate personnel will be on hand to serve the traveling public, according to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente.
Aside from the NAIA, international flights are also served at airports in Mactan, Clark, and Davao.
BI Port Operations Division Chief Carlos Capulong said all applications for vacation leave from April 7 until April 15 are deemed disapproved.
Capulong said it is imperative that the BI continues to operate at full work capacity at the airports or its services to the passenger public will be compromised. The BI has about 700 officers deployed at the three NAIA terminals alone.
Statistics show that passenger arrivals at the international airports are now averaging from 13,000 to 15,000 daily since a week ago, compared to just 6,000 to 9,000 a month ago. — With Ashzel Hachero
