Maritime Security Unit to Deploy 600 Personnel, Vessels to Secure APEC Venues, Delegates in Cebu

A maritime security unit will deploy some 600 personnel and several vessels to secure the venue and delegates of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit ministerial meetings in Cebu starting next month.

Some 3,200 delegates are expected to arrive in Cebu to attend the senior ministerial meetings.

The Interagency Maritime Security Task Unit is headed by Commodore Enrico Evangelista, commander of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) 7.

Evangelista said the maritime security unit is composed of personnel from the PCG 7, Naval Forces Central (Navforcen), Philippine National Police (PNP)-Maritime Group, Cebu Port Authority (CPA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), PCG Auxiliary and the Federation of Volunteers through Radio Communication (FVRC) Inc.

Evangelista said the unit will address maritime security matters related to the APEC summit in Cebu.

Evangelista said the group will employ and deploy more than 600 personnel from Aug. 19 to Sept. 14.

He said the PCG 7 alone will deploy more than 400 personnel, five CG vessels and more than 20 small boats.

He said these will be augmented by vessels, small craft and several fast boats from the Philippine Navy, PNP-Maritime Group and CPA.

Evangelista said volunteers, personnel, assets and equipment from PCGA and FVRC will support the operations.

He said they will implement a “no sail” zone off the beach at the Shangri-La’s Mactan and Resort Spa, one of the summit venues. (PNA) LAP/EB/PJN