Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu signed last Wednesday, November 7, the Memorandum of Agreement creating One Cebu–Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force (OC-IAITF), the Provincial Government of Cebu’s unified, localized initiative to fight illegal drugs, smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism in Cebu.

Headed by the Province of Cebu, the task force is composed of 15 enforcement agencies and non-government organizations, with two groups to monitor the airport and seaports. While continuing the performance of their mandates, each member-agency shall have a close working relationship with the task force by providing active support through law enforcement operations, detail of personnel, and timely exchange of relevant information, the MOA reads.

For its part, the Port of Cebu committed to immediately act upon any derogatory information raised by the OC-IAITF against international packages/cargoes for the purpose of conducting joint physical examination.

“I commend Governor Gwendolyn F. Garcia’s earnest efforts to form a task force, inviting us concerned agencies to sit down and together, make concerted actions to address and bring down these high crimes. It really takes the whole community to fight the unscrupulous individuals and their network if we want to stop them,” stressed District Collector Atty. Elvira Cruz.

Aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and under the leadership of Commissioner Yogi Filemon L. Ruiz, the Port of Cebu fully commits to strengthening its border protection measures including anti-drug interdiction efforts through intensified coordination with partner government agencies and stakeholders.

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