PCG warns passengers vs transporting firecrackers

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) issued yesterday an advisory to passengers, reminding them not to bring firecrackers on board ships illegally.

PCG commandant Wilfredo Tamayo said with the Christmas and New Year celebrations a couple of weeks from now, they are expecting unscrupulous or uninformed people to load firecrackers onto ships, either for sale or for their personal use. The PCG inspectors recently confiscated firecrackers in Manila, Southern Tagalog and Northern Mindanao.

Tamayo said in a statement that people intending to transport pyrotechnics should follow certain procedures. Under shipping rules, firecrackers should be properly documented and passengers should coordinate with the shipping company for the proper stowage of the cargo. They should also present a business permit of the owner and approval from the Firearms and Explosive Unit-Philippine National Police (FEU-PNP).

The PCG field office where the cargo would be loaded and unloaded must be notified. Tamayo said all the PCG districts and stations have been briefed “to ensure the safety and security of maritime travelers during the holiday season.” There would also be a Passenger Assistance Center (PAC) at every port.

“PCG units should also exercise extra vigilance in ports with random checks on passengers and luggage more than the usual,” he said.   – Evelyn Macairan