The Bureau of Customs Port of Cebu signed the Memorandum of Agreement on Wednesday, creating One Cebu–Inter-Agency Interdiction Task Force (OC-IAITF), Cebu provincial government’s unified initiative to fight illegal drugs, smuggling, human trafficking, and terrorism.

Headed by Cebu province, the task force comprises 15 enforcement agencies and non-government organizations, with two groups monitoring 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 forwarded by the OC-IAITF against international packages/cargoes for conduct of a joint physical examination.

“I commend Governor Gwendolyn 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, District Collector Elvira Cruz said.

“It takes the whole community to fight the unscrupulous individuals and their network if we want to stop them,” she added.

The Port of Cebu fully commits to strengthening border protection measures, including anti-drug interdiction efforts through intensified coordination with partner government agencies and stakeholders.