Gov’t implements ‘no sail zone’ on sea waters fronting hotels of Asean delegates
SECURITY AT SEA Members of the Philippine Coast Guard’s Special Operations Group patrol the Manila Bay as part of the security for the Asean Summit. INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
No sail zone will be implemented within the waters of Manila Bay starting Sunday, Nov. 5, as part of the security preparations for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit.
In a statement, Department of the Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge and the Chairman of the Committee on Security, Peace and Order, Emergency Preparedness and Response Catalino Cuy said sea operations will be banned in the vicinity waters of H2O Hotel, Manila to Okada Hotel, New Seaside Drive in Parañaque City from November 5 to November 16, 2017.
No sail zone means no vessel of any kind shall be allowed to pass through the above areas for 12 days.
“Maximum maritime security is part of our safety preparations to ensure that the short stay of our Asean delegates in our country will be as peaceful, safe, and secure as possible,” Cuy said.
The shoreline from H2O Hotel to the mouth of Pasig River will serve as a controlled zone, which means all vessels passing through the shoreline will be escorted by patrol boats of the Philippine Coast Guard.
Cuy said the implementation of the no sail zone and the control zone excludes vicinity waters within one nautical mile from the aforementioned areas.
He also said all Asean vessels will be required to submit their manifest of passengers to the Coast Guard three days prior to docking. Passenger vehicles will be required to submit their manifest one day before docking or sailing.
About 59,000 troops will be deployed by the Coast Guard to secure strategic areas in Manila and Pampanga for the Asean. /jpv
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