Philippine Navy, PCG man sea entry points amid Luzon quarantine

The Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard have deployed a task group to conduct maritime patrol off the waters in Manila amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

According to a press release, the Task Group Laban COVID-19, which is under the supervision of the Naval Task Group-National Capital Region, aims to “intercept and deny entry and exit of commercial passenger watercraft to and from the vicinity of Manila Bay.”

“This is in accordance to the guideline of enhanced community quarantine suspending all sea travels in and out of Luzon unless falling under the special exemption,” the statement read.

Photos: Philippine Navy

The Navy’s 2nd Patrol Boat Division was deployed to complement vessels from the PCG in executing seaborne security measures, while two rigid hill inflatable boats with personnel from the Naval Special Operations Group are on standby for deployment in Sangley Point in Cavite.

Moreover, the Navy and the PCG’s maritime patrol efforts complement all land quarantine assistance stations or checkpoints of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police and other government agencies.

“This is to ensure that people from outside NCR do not enter NCR by sea and vice versa, preventing people coming in or going out thereby risking the spread of the virus,” it said.

Mass transportation in Luzon has been suspended since March 17 in connection with the enhanced community quarantine over the region that the Philippine government declared last March 16.

According to the memorandum, land, air and sea travel shall be restricted.

Public utility vehicles will not be allowed to operate, including the LRT1, LRT2, MRT1 and the Philippine National Railways.

As of Sunday, the Philippines has confirmed a total of 380 cases with 25 deaths.

President Rodrigo Duterte has already placed the entire country under state of calamity, allowing the government to tap more funds to contain the spread of the virus. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News