PCG starts holiday ports monitoring

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Occidental has started monitoring different ports in Negros Occidental in preparation for the holiday season.

Lt. Commander Jansen Benjamin, the new PCG-Negros Occidental chief, said under the directives of PCG commander, Admiral Joel Garcia, they initiated “Oplan Byaheng Ayos, Pasko 2019” effectively placing the entire force on “full alert” status.

PCG deployed its personnel and K9 units to the ports of Pulupandan, Cadiz, Sagay, Escalante, San Carlos City, and the Bredco and Banago ports in Bacolod.

Benjamin ordered the sub-station commanders to inspect the equipment of all vessels before allowing them to leave port.

Passengers are also required to have their baggage checked before boarding to make sure that they are not carrying any contraband or weapons.

The number of passengers in the province’s ports, meanwhile, remains normal.

But the PCG expects the number to increase in the coming days before Christmas Day.