The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is ensuring safe and secure sea travel during the Christmas and New Year holidays in Western Visayas, its top official in the region said.

In an interview in Bacolod City, Captain Weniel Azcuna, acting commander of Coast Guard District Western Visayas, said they are on red alert and have deployed personnel in ports checking that vessels are seaworthy.

“The red alert started after the bombing incident in Marawi City. Our headquarters in Manila issued a directive to put all Coast Guard units on heightened alert, and it will continue as we observe the Yuletide season,” Azcuna told reporters on the sidelines of the bloodletting drive joined by the PCG Auxiliary 618th Squadron and Coast Guard Station-Northern Negros Occidental at a mall in Bacolod.

He said they expect an influx of passengers in ports for the holiday, but more passengers have already been observed.

“But it’s still manageable. On the part of the Coast Guard, our personnel are there to ensure the safety and security of passengers. We will avoid overloading and secure the ports,” he added.

On November 21, the Iloilo City-bound M/V Weesam Express 6, with 172 passengers and 19 crew members, was rescued back to Bredco Port following a distress call.

The vessel encountered a steering problem about 30 minutes after departing Bacolod.

On December 7, M/V City of General Santos, a fastcraft operated by Montenegro Shipping Lines, was traveling from Iloilo City to Bacolod, when it suffered an engine malfunction about 1.1 nautical miles from Bredco Port.

It was towed to Bacolod with all its 53 passengers and crew members. (PNA)