Coast Guard warns ship firms against overloading

The Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station warned shipping firms and banca operators not to overload their vessels and sea craft with passengers headed to their individual destinations  during the Holy Week.

Commander Agapito Bibat, Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu station chief, said they are worried over the practice of shipping firms to take on chance passengers or passengers who bought tickets at the last minute so they can earn extra income.

“Especially during 40 minutes before departure, that is why we always check and monitor the vessels before leaving,” he said.

Bibat said chance passengers are not included in the passenger manifest and are not insured in case of accidents.

Bibat said the shipping firms take on chance passengers when some passengers don’t arrive on time.

He said some shipping companies issue tickets at the last minute.

“The passenger (who will be prioritized) is the one that’s listed in the manifest and the first one that bought the ticket,” Bibat said.

Shipping firms that overload on passengers will be issued a maritime violation receipt and will be subjected to adjudication by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Bibat said.

He said the Coast Guard deployed teams to monitor unregistered motor banca operators who also overload on passengers.

Bibat identified the Pasil area as a hotspot for colorum motor bancas. Most of these motor bancas are fishing vessels that travel mostly to and from the northern part of Bohol.

Those headed to the countryside by land are assured of enough buses for the duration of the Holy Week.

The regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said they issued special permits to bus units allowing them to ply outside their original routes.

Operators can have special permits if they have complete requirements.

These include franchise, insurance, and a P260 fee.The special permit can be used for three days.

LTFRB Regional Director Ahmed Cuizon said there will be no shortage of bus units in Cebu province. There are more than 200 bus units in Cebu.

“Bus units with original routes that have less passengers have special permits to ply out with busy routes,” he said.

Cuizon said among the busiest routes for the Holy Week is in northern Cebu as tourists are expected to go to Bantayan Island.

Both the LTFRB-7 and Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) will conduct roadside inspections in the next few days.