A MARITIME security has said that maritime security in the country is crashing down, citing some loopholes in the security plan being implemented by the government.
National Maritime Safety and Security Agency director general, Capt. Jesser Cordova made the assessment following the abduction of a captain and chief engineer of the passenger carrier Super Shuttle Roro 9 who were snatched recently in the vicinity of General Santos City by alleged Abu Sayyaf bandits.
Cordova said that the abduction, which transpired last March 23, could have been prevented if there was a maritime security plan in vessels and in ports, which according to him had been deserted and neglected.
“This is a clear implication that crimes does not happen only in the streets. Piracy and terror attack is happening in the waters of the country since we are an archipelago, and we are also talking about lives here,” said Cordova
He added that it is quite clear that the main focus of the administration is fighting land-based crimes, especially on the war on illegal drugs and is less focused on maritime secuirty that must also be acted upon by the government immediately.
“Maritime security is indeed being neglected, as international criminals such as drugs smugglers/peddlers, terrorists etc. utilize most of our maritime ports, vessels and the sprawling waters of the country in diffusion of their crimes. 90 percent of the trade, legal or illegal, is carried by ships and happens at ports. Does the government has a blind spot on these?” asked Cordova, also the president of Deckman Sea Experts, a Philippine-based high standard maritime training center.
He added that a continuous and sustainable effort on the strict implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security code and the high awareness among ports and personnel nowadays as well as in the coming years will assure safe and secured port facility and travel.
“If there is no implementation of Maritime security, how do we control the access of illegal contraband, threat, terrorist attack that can happen anytime?” Cordova said.
Cordova said the problem of Maritime security was somehow been resolved during the time of then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and President Benigno Aquino had the executive orders of the two former presidents were pursued and implemented by the Department of Transportation and Communications, now the Department of Transportation.
He said Arroyo in 2004, signed Executive Order No. 311 or the “Designating the Office of Transport Security as the Single Authority Responsible for the Security of the Transportation Systems of the Country, Expanding its Powers and Functions and for other Purposes.”
Section 1B of the EO states that in the case of Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure, the International Maritime Organization-International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (IMO-ISPS) must be implemented, and that a National Security Program for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure is formulated, developed and implemented.
In 2016, President Aquino III released EO 197, an expanded version of EO No. 311, which states that the Philippines is a Contracting Party to the 1974 International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), as amended, including Chapter XI-2 thereof, on Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Security, that adopts the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which is an international framework through which governments, shipping companies, and port authorities can cooperate to detect and deter acts that threaten security of the maritime transportation system.
The two Eos has designated the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), MARINA and the Office of Transportation Security to perform the necessary security measures in private and government controlled ports and throughout the archipelago.
But according to Cordova, “from July of 2016, there were no significant inspection records for ships for their compliance to ISPS and it’s been nine months already that there had been no inspection made for the compliance of ships and ports, making it a national concern.”
“In case the ISPS is not implemented or monitored, it would mean that illegal contraband can go through ships, ports, shipyards and port facilities and to elsewhere. A continuous and sustainable effort on the strict implementation of the ISPS code and the high awareness among port and personnel nowadays as well as in the coming years will assure a safe and secured port facility.” Cordova said.
Cordova, a seasoned seafarer, suggested that the government allow the private sector to intervene over the matter, which is allowed under the Recognized Organization and Recognized Security Organization under the provision of SOLAS Chapter IX Reg 4, SOLAS XI-2 , and ISPS CODE.
NAMSSA is a first class Maritime Safety & Security Services committed in providing expertise that meets the requirements of the ISM, SOLAS chapter IX, ISPS code, SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and other relevant International Standards in order to fulfill customer’s expectations and achieve their utmost satisfaction.