Port Police together with the personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and PNP Maritime Group have been conducting body temperature screening among vessel crew of vessels calling at the Ports of Cagayan de Oro and Opol since 21 March 2020. This thermal screening is part of the precautionary measures of the Ports against the current Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Despite the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine in the entire Luzon, and Community Quarantine in most places in the country due to COVID-19, PPA ports are kept open for cargo vessels for unhampered cargo movements and uninterrupted flow of goods across the country.

Since “No Disembarkation” of vessel crew is strictly implemented in ports including for domestic vessels, PCG personnel came up onboard to administer thermo guns to the vessel crew. Ground personnel were also taken body temperature. At the Opol Port, Barangay Health Workers (BHW) also extended assistance to the thermal screening activity.

During the meeting of PPA PMO MO/C on 20 March 2020 with the maritime agencies and the Bureau of Quarantine-Department of Health, the attendees concurred to the recommendation that the PCG shall conduct thermal screening among vessel crew should the BoQ personnel will not be available to do so due to limited personnel. The BoQ scheduled a short orientation/training for PCG personnel on thermal screening and proper usage of thermo guns.