PPA, PCG eye inter-operability in port areas, waterways

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Philippine Ports Authority general manager Jay Daniel Santiago (left) with Philippine Coast Guard commandant George Ursabia, Jr. Photo from the Philippine Ports Authority.

A Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) technical working group is being formed to draft a memorandum of agreement (MOA) institutionalizing an enhanced inter-service operability between the sister agencies.

PPA general manager Jay Daniel Santiago, in a September 10 courtesy visit to PCG commandant George Ursabia, Jr., emphasized the need for both government agencies to further complement each other in performing their maritime security and safety and environmental protection functions in various port areas and waterways across the country.

Santiago requested for the Coast Guard’s assistance in ensuring that “our port police officers are equipped with knowledge and skills to uphold safe and uninterrupted port operations through the enforcement of local and international maritime regulations.”

Ursabia supported PPA’s proposal to harness the camaraderie among the men and women of PCG and PPA, saying it would promote cohesiveness in the performance of their day-by-day functions, while enhancing rapport and friendship between the forces.

Santiago pledged to allocate the necessary funds to undertake knowledge sharing, cross training, and fellowship programs, while Ursabia committed to provide the technical expertise, manpower, and other resource support required to ensure that PCG and PPA personnel work harmoniously in enforcing maritime and environmental laws.

Moreover, PCG and PPA agreed to establish a joint K9 institute in Clark, Pampanga to increase their active working dogs to at least 1,000 for deployment in all sea, land, and air transport facilities in the country. They also agreed to include Coast Guard station facilities inside port zones for any port development project.

PCG and PPA are both under the Department of Transportation.