Public warned against overloaded ships during Holy Week rush
Senator Bong Revilla on Thursday warned Holy Week travelers against the overloading scheme of some public transport companies, particularly in sea vessels where overloading of passengers is a common cause of accidents.
"Maritime accidents brought about overloaded boats are not uncommon in our country where the only means of cheap inter-island transport is by boats and other sea vessels. We must learn from the past if we want to save lives," Revilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said.
Revilla also urged urged the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to intensify its Holy Week security measures in seaports not only to avoid crimes but also prevent sea tragedies.
"I laud the DOTC for its Oplan Semana Santa. But it would be better if the security measures will focus primarily against overloading, not just on help desks and security personnel visibility," Revilla said.
Revilla also called on the public to report to the authorities any sea vessel, may it big ships or motorized bancas, that violates its maximum capacity of passengers.
According to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the Philippines is the fourth most accident prone country in the world and this includes sea accidents.
Among the most frequently mentioned causes of the sea accidents were overloading of the ship, ageing facilities, badly trained crewmembers, and poor compliance by the vessels with safety precautions and measures.
Last June 21, MV Princess of the Stars capsized in the Sibuyan Sea at the height of typhoon Frank's fury, leaving more than 800 dead. The country and the world's worst peacetime sea disaster was the collision of the MV Doña Paz with MT Vector in Tablas Strait on Dec. 20, 1987 when more than 4,000 people died. (PNA)