Philippine Coast Guard keeps an eye on 7 cruise ships with Pinoy crew in Manila Bay

Seven cruise ships in Manila Bay with Filipino crew are being monitored by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita on Tuesday.

WATCH: 7 cruise ships na may sakay na mga Filipino crew ang binabantayan ng Philippine Coast Guard sa Manila Bay. (???? PCG) | via @_jamesJA pic.twitter.com/ofmu8cF78Y

— GMA News (@gmanews) April 27, 2020

The Filipino crew are scheduled to disembark from the ship upon receiving clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).

A total of 428 Filipino crew from one of the cruise ships already disembarked over the weekend with BOQ clearance, while the rest are still awaiting BOQ clearance.

According to PCG spokesperson Commodore Armand Balilo, the six other cruise ships are also awaiting BOQ clearance regarding their Filipino crew.

As per protocol, the BOQ checks on the health condition of crew members to ensure they are free from COVID-19. The BOQ then gives clearance for disembarkation.

After leaving the ship, the crew would then have to undergo a 14-day mandatory quarantine in designated quarantine facilities.

The PCG has a ship deployed near the cruise ships, and also conducts aerial surveillance.

The PCG said it is expecting on Friday the arrival of another cruise ship from Germany and Australia.

The said cruise ship is currently in Indonesia to have Indonesian crew disembark. —KG, GMA News