Maritime council creation lauded

From the Sun Star-Davao (Dec 13): Maritime council creation lauded
PUBLIC Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head lauded the passing of an ordinance forming an inter-agency council to address all the maritime and security issues, conduct search and rescue operations, and enforce laws on environmental protection in the martime waters within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.

PSSCC head Benito De Leon, in an interview last Tuesday, said the passing of the ordinance creating the Maritime Coordinating Council (MCC) is a good move.

"It strengthens the security of the city in guarding the coastal areas in Davao kasi yung present arrangements natin are only for the land based. So ito magandang arrangement, there is a collaborative effort among different naval forces guarding the city and identifies who is actually in charge kasi may Navy, may Maritime Police, may Coastguard. So maganda ito. I congratulate and thank the city council for passing the ordinance such as this," De Leon said.

Based on the ordinance approved by the 18th Davao City Council, MCC will be composed of concerned government agencies and non-government organizations is tasked to maintain constant and up to date city risk assessment on criminality, terrorism, maritime waters and coastal areas wthin Davao City, and to take law enforcement actions relative thereto.

The MCC will be composed of the city mayor of Davao as chair, Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao (CGDSEM) as vice chair, and Public Safety and Security Command Center as the secretariat.

Council members include Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command, Davao City Police Office, Regional Maritime Unit 11, Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao, Task Force Davao, Central 911, Tactical Operations Group 11, Philippine Ports Authority 11, Bureau of Customs 11, Philippine Drug Enforcemetn Agency 11, Liga ng mga Barangay, Bureau of Fisheris and Aquatic Resources 11, City Agriculturists Office, and Maritime Industry Authority 11.

As mandated, the chairperson, or the city mayor or duly designated representative, shall exercise overall administrative and/or operational supervision and control to ensure and effective and efficient implementation of the policies by the Maritime coordinating council.

The MCC shall meet regularly at least once a quarter or as often as necessary at the call of the chair or by majority of the members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business.

The budget for the MCC and its entire operations will be under the City Mayor's Office (CMO) and shall be appropriated in the annual or supplemental budget.

The MCC is also mandated to submit to the city mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) within 30 days after the end of every fiscal year, an annual report on its accomplishments under this ordinance, together with its plans and recommendations to improve and develop its capability to enforce the provisions of the ordinance and a complete accounting of transaction on funds received.

The ordinance was proposed by the committee on peace and order chair Davao City Councilor Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta.

 http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2017/12/13/maritime-council-creation-lauded-579695