AMPIL
OVERLOADING in sea vessels and going after unregistered motorized bancas are the top two concerns of the new chief of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Cebu Station.
Commander Dionilett Ampil assumed command of the PCG Cebu Station last December 14, replacing Commander Agapito Bibat, which is part of the regular reshuffle of commanders.
“We will be assigned stations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Bibat told Cebu Daily News.
“We will continue with our campaign against overloading and chance passengers. We will enhance PCG personnel visibility. I will closely coordinate with other government agencies,” Ampil said in an interview.
He said overloading endangers the passengers because of the vessel’s limited capacity and the insufficient number of life jackets available due to the excess of passengers.
He vowed to continue to implement maritime safety standards, especially now that there is a high influx of passengers due to the holiday season.
“For example, the capacity of a vessel is 200, the available life jackets are also 200. So if you are an excess passenger, then it is very risky because you will not have your own life vest,” he said.
Passenger assistance desks are now in place at all ports in Cebu manned by PCG Auxiliary members, who are volunteers to assist the travelers.
Before the vessel departs, PCG personnel will check the vessel’s manifesto in order to ascertain if there are excess passengers.
He asked the public for patience if there are delays due to inclement weather and they would have to hold the vessels at the port.
“Just a little patience. We want to make sure that everyone will be safe and no hindrance going to their destinations,” he added.
In line with safety in sea travel, Ampil said he will also go after unregistered motor bancas.
“If you are on board in a colorum vessel, you have no insurance in case something happens,” he said.
Colorum motor bancas do not have insurances and not even licensed to operate. Their crew are also not trained in sea rescue.
He said unregistered motor bancas proliferate in Barangay Pasil in Cebu City, Barangay Tangke in Talisay City, Barangay Angasil in Mactan Island, Cordova and Olanggo Island.
The Cebu Station is Ampil’s third assignment as commander. His first station was in Bicol then Pagadian City, where he was assigned for 19 months.