PCG beefs up security measures for Undas

MANILA, Philippines -  In preparation for the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will deploy plainclothes security personnel on board passenger ships to beef up security measures.

PCG spokesman Lieutenant Commander Algier Ricafrente yesterday said plainclothes PCG personnel would augment the sea marshals onboard passenger ships as well as patrolling the seaports.

This is one of the measures that the PCG would be implementing beginning today as part of Oplan Kaluluwa, Ricafrente said.

Ricafrente said the other directives of PCG commandant Admiral Ramon Liwag include the “activation of the Public Assistance Center (PAC) whose personnel would attend to requests and complaints of the seafaring public and would refer them to the office and/or shipping/boat operators concerned.”

The PAC would be jointly manned by the personnel from PCG, Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Ports Authority.

They would also intensify the conduct of Mandatory Pre-Departure Inspection to prevent overcrowding and overloading of vessels.