The Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro, through its Port Police Division (PPD), actively took part in the “Operation 30 Days at Sea” which aimed to detect, deter, apprehend and file appropriate charges on vessels, criminals, companies and criminal organizations in breach of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, and of relevant national legislations.
The Operation that ran from 01 to 30 October 2019 was spearheaded by the Philippine Coastguard District Northern Mindanao. An inspection team was created to conduct the inspection on vessels and cargoes, and land-based sites, companies, and establishments around Misamis Oriental on their compliance with marine environmental protection and other similar operation-related mandates. The Inspection Team was composed of Philippine Coast Guard, PNP Maritime Group, Maritime Environmental Protection Unit, Maritime Industry Authority, Bureau of Custom, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Philippine Ports Authority.
In thirty (30) days, the Team had inspected thirteen (13) vessels calling at the Port of Cagayan de Oro, and twenty-six (26) land-based sites/ establishments and/or companies. From these, five (5) vessels were found with violations against rules and regulations on proper segregation of garbage, color coding of waste receptacles onboard, provision of oil containment and recovery, availability of oil-water separator, and sufficiency of chemical oil spill dispersant on board, among others; and five (5) establishments committed violations such as expired accreditation certificate of oil spill boom, no accreditation certificate of oil spill dispersant, incomplete set of oil spill containment and recovery equipment accredited by PCG and no training of oil spill response team (OSRT). Violators will face appropriate sanctions.
The Operation concluded on 31 October 2019. The focal persons to this month-long activity, PPD personnel SPPI Zaldy E. Magtagad and PPO1 Pam Budiongan, received their respective Certificates of Recognition during the Culmination Ceremony at the PCG NorMin Headquarters.
Certified for its Integrated Management System (IMS) and recognized as a Green Port by APEC Port Services Network, in addition to being compliant with the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, the Port of Cagayan de Oro continues to uphold its standards for port security while still maintaining to be steadfast in protecting the environment together with other maritime and line agencies. —by PGM Budiongan