DOTC chief assures RP ports secure against terrorism

Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza assured yesterday that steps are being taken to ensure that ports under the control of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) would comply with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code before the July 1 deadline.

Mendoza, speaking recently at the general membership meeting of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Makati City, said that with the continuing efforts being exerted by the PPA in terms of conducting inspection, verification and security audit of the ports under its jurisdiction, it is expected that the PPA ports will be ISPS compliant by July 1.

"This concern was raised by President Arroyo as she directed me to place this matter on the high priority list," Mendoza said in a press statement.

Mendoza made the assurance after some sectors in the business community expressed fears that international commercial vessels might avoid docking at Philippine ports come July 1 when the United Nations starts to impose sanctions on ports all over the world not compliant with the ISPS Code.

The code was adopted by the Conference of Contracting Government to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) last December.

The code is applicable to ships engaged in international voyage as well as ports servicing international trade.

"Failure to comply with the code will not only undermine the security standard for our ships and ports facilities but also cause serious adverse effects on the commercial operations of shipping and port industries of our country," Mendoza said.

Ships not complying with the code, it was said, could be turned away from port while international shipping will not dock in ports not complying with the code.

Consequently, if Philippine ports cannot comply with the code, international vessels, including those carrying the country’s regular oil supplies will not be able to dock in ports here and deliver their cargoes.

Mendoza said that as far back as January this year, because of the directive of the President, he had ordered the creation of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Maritime Security Study Group headed by Commodore Ronilo Hermes Bacolod (Ret.) under the umbrella of the DOTC Committee for the Security of Critical Infrastructures pursuant to the requirement of Malacañang’s Task Force for the Security of Critical Infrastructures of the Cabinet Oversight Committee for Internal Safety.

Mendoza revealed that a Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) survey conducted last March found that the Philippine-registered ships engaged in international voyages has a very high percentage of about 90 percent compliance with the ISPS Code, especially in the aspect of training of crews and port personnel as well as security systems. – Rainier Allan Ronda