Cebu Port Authority heightens alert for Holy Week

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU CITY – The Cebu Port Authority (CPA) is on heightened alert and step up all security and safety measures through the activation for the Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021 from March 29 to April 6, 2021 with the deployment of additional Safe Distancing Marshals and Port Police Officers in ports with high passenger traffic.

CPA general manager Leonila Miole said that the CPA worked closely with its partner agencies and port stakeholders and convened them on March 25 to double its efforts to ensure the safety, security, order and convenience of the public and prevent overcrowding and heavy queuing inside the ports.

“As the government continues to ease travel restrictions and with the ongoing threat of COVID-19 we activated Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2021,” Miole added.

Miole urged the public anew to observe and follow strictly all safety/health protocols within the port premises and encouraged all outbound passengers to coordinate in advance with their receiving local government units (LGUs) or with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for the travel requirements they need to comply before coming to the port area.

For receiving LGUs with no imposed travel requirements, all passengers are encouraged to book their tickets in advance, he added.

From March 29 to April 6, port marshals/police officer are deployed in all ports to enforce port health and safety protocols such as the mandatory wearing of face shield and face masks, temperature check and physical/social distancing. Appropriate markers were placed on the floors and seats for proper guidance.

For added prevention and safety measures, disinfecting foot baths were placed at the entrance and exits of the passenger terminals and offices. Likewise, sanitizing hand rub dispensers and lavatories for hand washing are placed in prominent places of the passenger terminal.

Persons who refuse to comply with any directives of the Authority and other law enforcement agents inside the port premises are sanctioned with fines and penalties.

Fines ranging from P200 to P1,000 await individuals who are caught violating health and safety protocols. First-time offenders will be asked to pay a fine of P200, P500 will be imposed on second-time violators and P1, 000 will be imposed for the third offense.

Miole assured all port users that daily disinfection activities are being conducted in all Port Passenger Terminal Buildings, port entry and exit points, shuttle buses and all other areas within the port that are highly exposed to passenger traffic.

Miole also urged the public to report individuals who are selling fake RT-PCR Test Results to passengers outside the port area, this after the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) 7 conducted an entrapment operation last March 18, 2021 which led to the arrest of two individuals for selling these falsified documents. (Photos: CPA)