Orion, Bataan—A quarantine facility that will serve as staging area for seafarers in Central Luzon and Metro Manila was established at Port Capinpin here to cater for returning sea-based Overseas Filipino Workers as among measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The facility, according to Philippine Port of Authority Port Manager Allan Rojo, was commissioned to address the government commitment to safe and prompt services of sea going vessels.
“This is part part of the government effort to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19. The facility was made with utmost regard to the safety of our Filipino seafarers in mind and complements the one-stop shop of Port Capinpin, which aims to create a green lane for the safe, swift, and convenient disembarkation of our fellow Filipino seafarers,” said Rojo.
He said crew change would be a breeze in the future with the presence of such kind of facility and to better address the pandemic, while maintaining a safe environment for the seafarers, port personnel, and nearby community.
The facility is managed and operated by the PPA. It has an area of about 1,271.6 square meters with a 124-bed capacity including 25 cubicles intended for high-risk cases separated by a nursing station.
PPA General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago lauded the local government units for their support in making realize the project.
“This facility is part of the P100 million donation of the Lopez Group of Companies to Department of Transportation and PPA, to help us combat the pandemic. We are proud that their donation did not go to waste and was used in a good way. And I am also proud that a native Bataeño made this facility,” Santiago added.
For his part, Gov. Albert Raymond Garcia said the crew change hub was significant to balance the health and safety with the opening of the economy.
“We know that the world economy is primarily driven by the maritime sector, mainly because of shipping and logistics. This activity is very important to ensure smooth crew change to ensure that our seafarers can safely come home to their families. At the same time, those who had already spent time with their families and are ready to work again can be sent-off or embarked,” Garcia said.
The Maritime Industry Authority’s Vice-Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. said the opening of Port Capinpin, Subic, and eventually Cebu would help seafarers get home and work again, but it must be in accordance with strict health and safety protocol.
“Its objective is to repatriate our stranded seafarers who had been experiencing fatigue and stress physically and mentally because of long stay aboard ship beyond their contract. Right now, building a crew change hub here is a big thing to help our countrymen,” Vingzon said.
He added that creating a crew change hub was not easy because of the need to constantly harmonize national and local guidelines for seamless implementation of protocols.