An international port should be compliant with the International Ship and of Port Facilities (ISPS) Code in order to entice foreign vessels to dock. On the other hand, domestic ports need also to be compliant with the National Security Programme for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure, which is the domestic counterpart of the ISPS Code in terms of security standards for vessels and port facilities. The Port Facility Security Plans need to be approved by the Office for Transportation Security (OTS), an office tasked to supervise security measures in land, water and air transport.

      In the case of the Cebu International Port (CIP) and the Cebu Baseport Domestic, port users can heave a sigh of relief because the security audit conducted by the OTS Audit Team on June 29-30, 2011 found the security measures at the Port of Cebu compliant with the international and domestic standards.

       Consequently, the CIP and the Baseport Domestic Zone were recently issued with its respective Statements of Compliance of a Port Facility by the OTS.

       The Compliance Certificate for the CIP was issued on August 8, 2011 and valid for five years or until July 7, 2016.

       The seal of recognition for the two port facilities would not have been possible if not for the support of the CPA Management, headed by its general manager, Dennis R. Villamor, in investing port security equipment such as x-ray machines, walk-thru metal detectors and manpower resources.

          Kudos to the CPA security personnel who have been at the forefront in making sure that port users are safe and secure while inside the two port facilities. The security aspect is being handled by PP/Director Oscar J. Lopez as CIP Port Facility Security Officer and PP/SSupt. Glenn S. Sarador as Port Facility Security Officer for the Cebu Domestic Port. - Glenn S. Sarador, D P A