AUTHORITIES URGED TO TAKE STEPS TO AVERT SEA
TRANSPORT CRISIS

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. today asked transportation authorities to immediately look for ways to avert a looming sea transport crisis in the South in view of the government's order to ground the nine inter-island passenger vessels of Aboitiz group following the sinking of the Super-Ferry 9.

Pimentel called on Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to expedite and complete the investigation of the sinking of Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines last year to pave the way for the possible lifting of the grounding of the operations of some, if not all, of its passenger vessels.

He also sought the immediate release of the report of the Board of Marine Inquiry which investigated the Princess of the Stars mishap in which more than 800 passengers perished.

Since the vessel sank off the waters of Sibuyan Island, only the cargo ships of Sulpicio Lines were allowed to sail by marine transport authorities.

"We do not question the order of the Maritime Industry Authority to ground passenger vessels that pose a danger to sea travellers because that is a normal precautionary measure after a major sea accident. Unfortunately, this will further reduce the number of ships plying the Luzon-Visayas-Mindanao route that will be available for use by the people," the senator from Mindanao said.

Pimentel said that the passenger vessels in the Sulpicio fleet that have complied with all safety and technical requirements should now be cleared for sailing by Marina and only those that have not should stay grounded. Otherwise, he said a paralysis in the sea transportation cannot be avoided to the detriment of the public.

With the inter-island passenger vessels of both the Sulpicio Lines and Aboitiz Transport grounded, Pimentel said this leaves the Negros Navigation and Carlos Gothong Lines as the only shipping lines operating between Metro Manila and the South.

However, he said the Negros Navigation has only four vessels and Carlos Gothong Lines has three vessels, hardly sufficient to accommodate the huge number of people, who prefer to travel by sea, because it is the cheapest means of transportation.

Pimentel conveyed his deepest sympathy for victims of the sea tragedy, especially the relatives of the passengers who lost their lives. He expressed the hope that the survivors of the accident will be able to recover from the trauma caused by this horrifying episode in their lives.

He also congratulated the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force personnel for saving many passengers from drowning.