GMA rejects Vidalplea for Sulpicio

CEBU, Philippines - President Arroyo yesterday politely rejected an appeal by Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for her to lift the suspension order slapped on the passenger vessels of Sulpicio Lines Inc.

Vidal made the appeal in a closed door meeting with the president in the course of her visit to Cebu.

Vidal said he appealed on behalf of Sulpicio Lines because of his concern that the company may embark on yet another round of worker layoffs because of the slowdown in its business as a result of the suspension order.

The suspension order was slapped against Sulpicio Lines in the aftermath of the Princess of the Stars sinking in June last year in which more than 800 people were killed.

Vidal himself said the president told him she cannot lift the suspension order just yet because there is a process for the safety requirements imposed on SLI to be met and the company has yet to fully comply with that process.

“I asked her if it was possible to activate the passenger ships because they might be laying off again, as they cannot anymore sustain their continued employment,” Vidal said.

He said the owners of Sulpicio, one of the biggest shipping operators in the country, earlier reported to him that they already did their best to comply with what the government has demanded of them.

Sulpicio used to account for more than half of all the cargo volume in the country and a howl of protest from businessmen ensued following the suspension order. This prompted the government to lift the suspension on the cargo ships of Sulpicio even as the suspension on passenger vessels remained in effect.

The Maritime Industry Authority suspended all Sulpicio ships immediately after the Princess of the Stars went down in a storm on June 21.

With the appeal of businessmen, 11 cargo vessels were allowed to sail, leaving the 12 passenger vessels of the company grounded up to this date pending compliance with safety requirements imposed by the Marina.

A month after the tragedy, Sulpicio laid off 136 regular officers and crew members of at least eight passenger vessels, claiming heavy losses incurred on account of the suspension of their operations.

The Associated Labor Unions - Trade Union Congress of the Philippines has warned of the possibility of a new round of layoffs affecting about 600 workers if the vessels are not allowed to resume sailing soon.

It fears that up to 2,000 workers will ultimately lose their jobs if the government does not step.

Despite the police rejection, Vidal said the president assured him she will look again into the matter.

Vidal said that with his appeal, he has already done his part. Still he promised to continue praying that things will be resolved soon so as not to aggravate the worsening economic woes of workers.

The prelate praised the president for making good her promise to help ease the effects of the crisis on those who have been displaced by granting them training scholarships and alternative jobs. (/JST) (THE FREEMAN)