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‘Let ports police also undergo yearly fitness test’
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Posted on May 21 2019
The Commonwealth Ports Authority is working to have its ports police be placed under the same physical fitness test regulations as that of Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting personnel.
This is intended to ensure that CPA complies with Federal Aviation Administration regulations as well as the local certification regulations.
CPA board personnel affairs committee chair Joseph Diaz said in an interview last week that they did approve the physical fitness test regulations for ARFF personnel and now they are working for the ports police to have the same regulations.
“There is nothing at this point that we have [physical fitness exam regulations] for the ports police,” Diaz said, adding that the program will be similar to what they have with the ARFF.
He said those who are applying to join the ARFF and the ports police must undergo the physical fitness exam course.
Those already with CPA would need to comply with the physical fitness requirements every year.
“Every year they have to be recertified,” Diaz said.
Right now, CPA is sending its people off island for ARFF recertification. “It is very important. My top priority is to have them recertified in accordance with federal rules and regulations,” he said.
CPA does have the ARFF training facility on Saipan but it was destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu last October. Diaz said they are looking at millions of dollars to have that training facility restored and that may take a while.
He said ARFF staff are already certified, but they have to continue the training.
Diaz said the ports police will be required to meet the same physical fitness requirements as that of ARFF’s.
“We are in the process of doing that,” he said.
