The Office for Transportation Security (OTS), an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Transportation, is currently conducting consultative meetings focused on revising the national transportation security program for the maritime sector, aiming to get the recommendations of security implementers during these consultations.
Among significant developments to come out during its preliminary meeting was the establishment of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) designed to help the industry execute security measures and detect and deter threats to the safety of the maritime transportation system. The IRR will also impose sanctions and penalties to elevate the level of compliance.
The Philippines—being a contracting party to the 1974 International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea, as amended to include Chapter XI-2 that focuses on special measures to enhance maritime security and adopt the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code—designates the OTS as the agency that will ensure the implementation of the National Security Program for Sea Transport and Maritime Infrastructure by virtue of Executive Orders (EO) 277, 311, and 197.
OTS likewise fosters connectivity among stakeholders by helping them understand their security risks and promotes their compliance to international protocols to help mitigate the adverse effects of terrorism on their organization.
On a separate note, Miguel Oraa, OTS officer-in-charge, said in a statement that “the OTS will be here standing by and helping the industry in crafting their security plans through accreditation of Recognized Security Organizations or RSOs who shall provide services to maritime stakeholders to address the bottleneck. Likewise, this will prevent operational influences that may result to corrupt practices.”
He added, “The end game of this program is to establish institutional partnership by involving both private and public sectors in ensuring overall security.”
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
