Senator Sherwin Gatchalian calls for review of maritime safety standards

Gatchalian calls for review of maritime safety standards
Hannah Torregoza December 4, 2019 https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/12/04/gatchalian-calls-for-review-of-maritim...

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking a review of the safety protocols set by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and other existing maritime transportation laws to ascertain whether these are faithfully complied with or if there are lapses in the implementation.

Gatchalian, in filing Senate Resolution No. 220, said a review was necessary, especially if the government aims to enhance maritime protocols to avoid a repeat of the accidents that happened in the past, especially during typhoons.

“It is crucial that the Philippines maintains a high standard in ensuring the safety of passengers travelling by water as well as adequate protocols to implement the same,” Gatchalian said.

“Hindi na natin kailangan pa na hintayin na mayroon nanamang barkong lumubog sa kasagsagan ng bagyo para i-review kung nakakacomply ba tayo sa maritime safety standards na sinet ng Marina (We don’t need to wait for another ship to capsize in the middle of a storm to review if we are complying with the maritime safety standards set by MARINA),”

“Dapat automatic na yan dahil buhay ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya sa tuwing naglalayag sila sa karagatan, (That should be automatic because the lives of our people are at stake each time they travel by sea),” the senator added.

Gatchalian’s resolution seeks to direct the appropriate Senate Committee to conduct such inquiry “with the end view of enacting amendments to existing legislations that will enhance protocols on the safety and quality of passenger transport services, provide for effective supervision and regulation of all water transport in the country and ensure proper mobilization of resources for necessary maritime transportation infrastructure.”

According to Gatchalian, data from the Philippine Ports Authority show that passenger traffic in ports across the country grew by 5.68% from 72,438,609 passengers in 2017 to 76,798,175 passengers in 2018.

Despite the many sea mishaps that have occurred in the past, the senator noted that the country’s archipelagic composition is the primary reason why Filipinos still patronize the use of maritime vessels, such as the Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels, ferries, fast crafts and motorized bancas.

Citing a MARINA report, Gatchalian noted there had been 922 incidents of engine trouble, 496 incidents of capsizing, and 427 incidents of grounding from 2011 to 2016. Other maritime incidents include collisions, sinking, ramming and fire.

Just last August 2019, Gatchalian noted that 31 people were killed when three boats capsized in the Iloilo-Guimaras Strait. Eight of the casualties were teachers.

He also said the varying number of casualties reported by the media at the early stage of the incident were due to the unclear protocols among emergency response authorities, particularly, MARINA, Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy.

The lawmaker said he believes the growing number of maritime incidents is indicative of the inadequacy of the safety standards set by MARINA and/or lapses in its implementation.

“These policy and implementation drawbacks support the need to review MARINA’s capability and capacity to enforce maritime safety standards laws to ensure that we can accord the protection needed by our people and that we put up the necessary improvements in transport infrastructure that will support the provision of safe and secured shipping services,” Gatchalian stressed.

“It is imperative for the Senate to review policies set forth by the Executive as it annually deliberates on the government’s expenditure plan for certain programs, including support for maritime transport infrastructure,” he emphasized.