"Oplan Kalakbay" ensures public safety while at sea

The Cebu Coast Guard yesterday again implemented "Oplan Kalakbay" in line with this week's observance of the Holy Week wherein throngs of people are expected to be going home to their respective provinces.

Cebu Coast Guard district commander Alejandro Flora, Jr. yesterday said that the Oplan Kalakbay is a yearly routine of the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure the safe travel of passengers by overseeing the security of the pier areas of the entire Cebu province.

Flora said that at least three K-9s are tasked to check the belongings of every passenger to make sure that no explosives will pass through the pier terminals, as they already have checked the x-ray machines being installed at the terminal areas in order to deter terrorist threat.

He also said that the Cebu Coast Guard in coordination with the PNP Maritime will also impose the "no ticket, no boarding" policy to ensure that there will be no overloading of passengers. It has been noticed that during the Lenten season, most ferry companies would take advantage of the event by accepting more passengers, beyond the capacity limit of their vessels.

He said that the pier area will probably be crowded with passengers bound for their provinces on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday. Because of this, he also appeals to passengers to be patient on possible delays in boarding because thorough inspections will be conducted to ensure public safety while at sea. - Flor Z. Perolina/MEEV