Cebu Coast Guard declares heightened alert for Holy Week

Passengers bound for Lapu-Lapu City board a ferry boat in Cebu City port. Starting yesterday, Coast Guard personnel will monitor the Cebu ports as part of “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe Semana Santa.” (CDN FILE PHOTO)

THE Cebu Coast Guard Station is now putting the province under heightened alert status in anticipation of the influx of passengers  leaving for their hometowns from the different ports  to observe Holy Week.

Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Agapito Bibat said the heightened alert status started at 12:01 a.m. yesterday will remain until March 28 when passengers are expected to return to Cebu City.

Dubbed as the Oplan Ligtas Biyahe Semana Santa, strict security measures will be implemented. Personnel from different government agencies have to be ready for any untoward incident. “We are expecting the influx of passengers and all our response personnel have been deployed in the different areas,” he said.

Aside from the usual screening of passengers’ luggage, K9 units are also assigned at the different ports.

Coast Guard vessels, aluminum and rubber boats are being readied in Pasil area, under the Mandaue Mactan Bridge and in Hilutungan Channel.

Passenger assistance centers are being set up in piers 1 and 3 in Cebu City, and the different ports in Mandaue City, Danao City, Hagnaya in San Remigio, Sta. Fe in Bantayan Island, Bato in Santander and Toledo City.

The passenger assistance centers operate 24/7 and are manned by personnel from the Cebu Coast Guard, Cebu Ports Authority, Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine National Police. A medical team of doctors and nurses from the Cebu Coast Guard station are also being deployed to help passengers who need medical attention.

Bibat said his personnel will ensure that there will be no overloading and all passengers are listed in the manifest. Bibat asked the passengers to cooperate and not to bring deadly weapons, pointed objects and other illegal items so their travel will not be disrupted.