Law on maritime council set for final reading this week

THE 18th Davao City Council is set to pass for third and final reading this week an ordinance creating the Maritime Coordinating Council (MCC) of Davao City.

The MCC or the Inter-agency coordinating council will implement measures to address all the maritime and security issues, conduct search and rescue operations, and enforce laws on environmental protection in the maritime waters within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City in support with the concerned government agencies.

Also among its function is to sustain and monitor the protection of maritime environment and other issues and events that may affect the local safety and security situation of Davao City in support with the concerned government agencies and NGOs.

It is also tasked to maintain constant and up to date City risk assessment on criminality, terrorism, maritime emergencies, and smuggling happening in the maritime waters and coastal areas within Davao City and to take law enforcement actions relative thereto.

The MCC will be composed of the city mayor of Davao as chair, Coast Guard District Southern Mindanao (CGDSEM) as vice chair, and Public Safety and Security Command Center.

Agency members include: Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command, Davao City Police Office, Regional Maritime Unit 11, Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao, Task Force Davao, Central 911, Tactical Operations Group 11, Philippine Ports Authority 11, Bureau of Customs 11, Philippine Drug Enforcemetn Agency 11, Liga ng mga Barangay, Bureau of Fisheris and Aquatic Resources 11, City Agriculturists Office, and Maritime Industry Authority 11.

The chairperson, or the city mayor or duly designated representative, shall exercise overall

administrative and/or operational supervision and control to ensure and effective and efficient implementation of the policies by the Maritime coordinating council.

The MCC shall meet regularly at least one a quarter or as often as necessary at the call of the chair or by majority of the members. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to do business.

The budget for the MCC and its entire operations will be under the Office of the city mayor and shall be appropriated in the annual or supplemental budget.

The MCC is also mandated to submit to the city mayor and the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) within 30 days after the end of every fiscal year, an annual report on its accomplishments under this ordinance, together with its plans and recommendations to improve and develop its capability to enforce the provisions of this ordinance and a complete accounting of transaction with respect to any funds received.

This ordinance was proposed by the committee on peace and order chair Davao City Councilor Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta.