Bacolod solon: Gov't also to blame over Sulpicio tragedy
BACOLOD CITY – The Sulpicio tragedy that left hundreds of families and relatives mourning over the dead and missing passengers is not only the fault of the shipping firm but also of the government, said Bacolod City Representative Monico Puentevella.
Puentevella, head of the House of Representatives committee on transportation, also blamed the government because the it does not have updated or modern technologies and facilities to monitor the weather conditions.
Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (Pagasa) does not have the facilities to feed the Maritime office or the Philippine Coast Guard timely weather updates that could be used as guide by shipping lines and sea crafts, Puentevella said.
The congressman added, if Pagasa provided the Philippine Coast Guard the weather updates on time, the tragedy might not have happened. He noted that on the day of the tragedy Pagasa's forecast was disseminated at about 4 p.m. and the next update was about 6 hours later while the ill-fated Princess of the Stars vessel set sail at 6 p.m.
In the ongoing congressional inquiry on the Sulpicio tragedy it was learned that the government released P6 million budget three years ago for the purchase of new weather forecasting equipment or instruments but it did not materialize for unknown reasons, Puentevella added.
The solon added that like Pagasa the Coast Guard has no equipment too. They don't have boat, telephone, fax and other things needed to insure and to guard the sea and ensure safety of the travelers, Puentevella said.
"Sea tragedies had claimed so many lives but even until now the Board of Marine Inquiry has done nothing. No case has been filed in court against anybody and these tragedies keep on happening over and over. Wala pulos ang investigation," Puentevella added.