The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will place its operating units on heightened alert for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) and Undas 2023, starting from 27 October until 05 November 2023.

PCG Commandant, CG Admiral Ronnie Gil L Gavan, instructed all PCG Districts, Stations, and Sub-Stations to intensify security and safety measures on all ports nationwide.

He said this is to ensure the orderly operations of sea transport facilities, convenient travel of the seafaring public, peaceful elections, and security of tourists in beach and private resorts nationwide amid the anticipated increased volume of maritime traffic.

"We conduct the 24/7 monitoring of nautical highways routes, especially in the Visayas where most tourist destinations are. Rest assured, we will ensure maritime security and safety in our western and eastern seaboards, including inter-island routes. Our deployable response groups and the PCG Auxiliary will be ready for these operations," CG Admiral Gavan added.

Western seaboard monitoring includes Batangas, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Aklan, Iloilo, and Zamboanga regions. Meanwhile, Eastern seaboard monitoring covers Manila, Bicol region, Samar, Leyte, and Surigao provinces.

Furthermore, CG Admiral Gavan urges fellow Coast Guardians to exercise extra vigilance in inspecting passengers and luggage to ascertain travel safety and security, with medical teams ready to assist during emergencies.

Coast Guard K9 units and security teams will conduct election precinct inspections to uphold the peaceful, safe, and honest conduct of BSKE 2023.

Additionally, PCG personnel will patrol maritime tourist destinations, ready to augment lifeguards and first responders.

"We will have safety inspectors in port terminals, law enforcement teams in strategic election locations, patrol teams in critical vicinity waters, and deployable response groups on standby for possible election security augmentations and rescue missions," he emphasized.

The PCG intensifies operations with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), specifically performing vessel safety and security inspections on board and reminding port passengers to remain vigilant and alert during sea travel.

Moreover, the PCG coordinates with the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in safeguarding the integrity of the BSKE and upholding the transparency of the electoral process.