The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) claimed that passengers of pumpboats servicing the Iloilo-Guimaras route have no problem with the operations of fast crafts.
Vice Admiral Narciso A. Vingson Jr., MARINA OIC chief, conducted an inspection of passenger terminals in Iloilo City on Thursday, Sept. 18.
MARINA said “[it was] able to observe the stable demand for fast crafts wherein almost maximum capacity is met for both Jordan and Buenavista routes.”
“The team also received positive responses from passengers as they are given a safer option to travel,” it added.
MARINA also gathered information and assessed the status of ongoing operations in accordance with its new safety guidelines, where were imposed on pumpboats following the Aug. 3, 2019 Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy.
These safety guidelines are as follows:
-passengers should wear life jackets at all times throughout the voyage;
-motor bancas shall carry passengers up to 75 percent of their authorized capacity only;
-the tarpaulins/canvass shall either be rolled-up or removed;
-the operation of motor bancas shall be during fair weather only (i.e. winds are not more than Force 3 of the Beaufort scale and the wave height is not more than 0.5 meters;
-the operations will be from sunrise to sunset only
-the motor bancas shall be equipped with distress signals and equipment.
Narciso together with officials of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) also met with local leaders in Guimaras, boat operators, boat cooperatives, and ship operators.
MARINA, during the meeting, reiterated the directive of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to phase out wooden hull passenger vessels for the safety of the people.IMT
