CEBU, Philippines — To ensure the smooth return and crew change of seafarers in the province, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued an executive order (EO) providing for the protocols and guidelines to be observed upon their entry and transit in Cebu.
Garcia issued EO No. 27 dated October 13, 2020 conforming to the Philippine Green Lane established for the speedy and safe travel of seafarers.
Garcia met with representatives from Cebu Port Authority, Maritime Industry Authority 7, Philippine Coast Guard 7, League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter president and Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco to define the protocols for returning and transiting seafarers in the province.
During the meeting, Garcia said that just like the smooth process of repatriating overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) in the province, the procedure for repatriating seafarers must also be organized.
“The seafarers that are coming back kay mao mani ang mga changed crew di ba? So kadtong mobalik na kay humana ang ilang kontrata, mouli ni sila sa mga lungsod, unsa may assurance sa mga lungsod nga kani sila libre sa Covid,” said Garcia.
Frasco agreed on requiring a letter of acceptance from the receiving local government units (LGUs) to avoid any inconvenience of the returning seafarers.
Under the EO, all arriving vessels shall stay in the designated anchorage or docking site authorized by the CPA and PCG. Existing procedures of CPA for anchorage shall also be observed.
The Bureau of Quarantine (BoQ) shall board the ship to assess the health condition of the vessel, conduct a thermal scan of the crew, as well as other applicable tests, and review their documents in preparation for disembarkation.
CPA general manager Leonilo Miole said their office will endorse the list of seafarers to the Provincial Health Office (PHO) for coordination with the receiving LGUs. — GMR (FREEMAN)