No sail policy in Manila Bay, domestic travel sea ban during lockdown — PCG

MANILA, Philippines — A “no sail policy” will be enforced in Manila Bay, as well as a domestic sea travel ban to and from the Port of Manila, starting March 15, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Saturday.

In a statement, PCG Commandant Admiral Joel Garcia said the no sail policy will be be enforced on all domestic passenger and private vessels.

Cargo vessels, fishing boats, tugboats, and government vessels may be allowed to sail, Garcia clarified, provided that crew members onboard “shall be subjected to health protocols.”

“Passengers and crew members of watercraft navigating within the National Capital Region (NCR) shall observe the guidelines on social distancing set forth by the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation,” he added.

The policy comes after President Rodrigo Duterte to place the entire NCR under “community quarantine,” as a way to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Under the order, all land, air and sea travel to and from Metro Manila are suspended from March 15 to April 14.

The country’s record of COVID-19 cases spiked to 64 as of Saturday. Among the number, eight have died.

Garcia added that law enforcement and medical teams of the PCG, Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and Joint Task Force Armed Forces of the Philippines – NCR were deployed to “to implement health protocols and safety guidelines” to all passengers and crew members of domestic and foreign passenger ships, domestic and foreign cargo vessels, fishing boats, motorbancas, private watercraft, government vessels, tugboats, and pilot boats in Manila Bay, as well as its coastal areas namely the Pasig River, Navotas River, Cainta River, Laguna de Bay, Parañaque River, Manggahan Floodway, Marikina River, and Las Piñas Bay.

The 100 deployable response teams of the PCG Task Force Laban Coronavirus, the PCG Commandant said,  are ready for deployment as “force multipliers” of the PNP in the enforcement of protocols and guidelines on the general community quarantine.

“Said water security cluster measures shall also be implemented in Oriental Mindoro and other island provinces, as requested by their respective local government units, to prevent the spread of the contagious virus in their areas of responsibility,” Garcia said.

Edited by MUF