LIMAY, Bataan — The Philippine Coast Guard here on Tuesday reported that some 30 crewmen of two cargo vessels coming from China have undergone quarantine for 14 days in this province as precautionary measure against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Respiratory Disease (nCoV ARD).
“So far, meron tayong na-inspect na dalawang vessel galing China. Ang isa ay kaaalis lang kahapon sa Mariveles at ang isang natitira sa Nagbalayong, Morong na under quarantine,” Lt. Airland Lapitan, Coast Guard Bataan Station commander.
Lapitan said MV BMC Catherine loaded with cement left Mariveles Monday after 14 days of quarantine while Vissai VCT 02, a crude oil tanker, was still in Morong as of Tuesday undergoing quarantine, also for 14 days.
The two vessels whose last port of call was China have around 15 crews each, he added.
Mariveles and Morong are two of the 11 towns and one city in Bataan.
Lapitan said that the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) issues clearance that becomes the basis for the Philippine Ports Authority and the Coast Guard to know that a certain vessel has been cleared and already quarantined and therefore safe.
He furthered that they are tasked in the strict monitoring of the arriving vessels and to make sure that these are equipped with clearance from the BOQ before anyone can board the boat.
Lapitan said that their responsibility has become bigger and stricter with the emergence of nCoV ARD.
”Nagbago talaga. Actually, naghigpit at very strict ang monitoring on every vessel na transiting sa area namin. At the same time, nagrerender kami ng situation report every six hours sa mother unit namin,” the commander said.
The report, he said, contains the name of the vessel, date of arrival in the port, current location and other status like if already boarded by quarantine officers.
Quoting a Notice to All Mariners issued by the PCG, Lapitan said the Department of Health circulated guidelines at all seaports for prevention and spread of the 2019 nCoV ARD as a public health emergency of international concern that entails the urgent need to coordinate international efforts.
