Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak wants officials of the Philippine Coast Guard in Cebu, two shipping firms and the Maritime Industry Authority to appear before the council to shed light on last Wednesday’s sea collision at Lauis ledge off Talisay City.
Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said last week’s collision between the Starcraft 9 and MV Our Lady of Faith is alarming.
He said Marina and Coast Guard officials should give the council updates on safety precautions they enforced following the August 16, 2013 collision between MV St. Thomas Aquinas and MV Sulpicio Express Siete that resulted in the deaths of 61 persons.
Last Wednesday’s collision between Starcraft 9 and MV Our Lady of Faith caused Starcraft 9’s Engr. Romeo Astillero to fall overboard and drown.
Weniel Azcuna, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station commander, said Captains Roman Pialago of Starcraft 9 and Captain Jose Adaptar of Our Lady of Faith submitted their marine protests prior to their suspensions.
Tumulak recalled that after the 2013 collision, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) announced their plans to put up the radar system along the Mactan Channel.
Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella called on the Marina to ensure the safety of passengers in the wake of last Wednesday afternoon’s collision between Starcraft 9 and the MV Our Lady of Faith.
“In land, whenever a public utility vehicle (PUV) or a private driver is involved in a road accident, the vehicle is impounded and the driver is detained. I think laws are not strictly enforced,” he said.
The ship safety certificates of both seacrafts were also suspended pending the results of an inspection to determine their seaworthiness.
Labella said Lauis Ledge is more of a canal because of its narrowness.
Complaints
He said he met with Engr. Jesus Quinio, Marina safety engineer, for updates on the inquiry.
The vice mayor said he also asked Quinio to look into the convenience of the passengers.
“I received so many complaints about defective air-conditioning systems in business and tourist class in passenger vessels,” Labella told reporters.
Emergency exits should also be distinctly marked to ensure the safety of passengers and crew in emergencies, the vice mayor said.
Labella said the incident will be discussed in next Wednesday’s session.