MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICERS (MTSO) COURSE HELD

TO IMPROVE MARITIME SAFETY IN THE PHILIPPINES, A TRAINING ON MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY OFFICERS (MTSO) WAS HELD LAST JUNE 16, 17 & 18, 2009 CONDUCTED BY THE OFFICE FOR TRANSPORTATION SECURITY (OTS) UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE AUSTRALIAN EAST INITIATIVE.

THE TRAINING WAS DESIGNED FOR SECURITY OFFICERS FROM SHIPS AND PORT FACILITIES, TO BE ABLE TO ACQUIRE THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN THE PERFOMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITITES OF THE VARIOUS POSITIONS OF SECURITY IN THE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION, BOTH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMME FOR SEA TRANSPORT AND MARITIME INFRUCTRUCTURE (NSPSTMI).

IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT SECURITY (ISPS) CODE IN THE PHILIPPINES WERE DISCUSSED, TO INCLUDE UPDATES ON NATIONAL THREAT.

DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY, ATTY. CHRISTIAN V. SANTILLAN, PORT MANAGER, PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY, PORT MANAGEMENT OFFICE OF DAVAO, EXPRESSED HIS HEARTFELT APPRECIATION ON THE OTS-DOTC, MOST ESPECIALLY TO THE TRAINORS (REAR ADMIRAL EDGARDO M. ISRAEL (RET) AND CAPT. PEDRO LOPEZ (RET), WHO HAVE SHOWED THEIR EXPERTISE ON MARITIME SECURITY.  THE PORT MANAGER LIKEWISE ACKNOWLEDGED THE COOPERATION OF MS. THERRY TANJUAN, CONSULTANT FOR THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT.

HELD IN DAVAO CITY, PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY (PPA) TRAINING ROOM, THIRTY-TWO (32) PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE SAID TRAINING COMING FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECURITY OFFICERS FROM SOUTHERN MINDANAO AREA.

(with report from Ms. Natividad P. Amorillo, PPA, PMO-Davao).