By Armando Fenequito Jr.  DAVAO CITY - Despite the threat posed by the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), an official of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Davao has disclosed that the number of foreign vessels docking within the ports in the region has not declined. Philippine Coast Guard (MANILA BULLETIN) PCG Davao Station commander Gary Laynesa, on Wednesday’s Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)-Philippine National Police (PNP) Press Corps Southern Mindanao briefing at the Royal Mandaya Hotel here, said that, as of January this year, they monitored an average of 15 ships docking in this city daily. He said majority of these were Chinese vessels that buy banana products from the region. Meanwhile, he assured the public that all foreign vessels undergo mandatory isolation before they are allowed to dock in the ports here. Laynesa said all foreign vessels need to drop anchor at the designated Quarantine Anchorage area in the Davao Gulf for the 14-day mandatory isolation with the medical personnel of Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) to ensure that all of their crew are not infected with COVID-19. “The captain of the vessel will submit the master declaration that ship and the crew are safe from any diseases and the medical officers of Bureau of Quarantine will examine if the declaration is true or not,” he said. He said, during the mandatory quarantine, no one is allowed to disembark or go up the vessel without the clearance from the BOQ. Laynesa said, after the 14-day quarantine, the medical team of the BOQ evaluates if the vessel and its crew will be allowed to enter the ports in the region. If they are cleared, he said the vessels will be escorted by the officers of the Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration and Philippine Ports Authority.