DOTC agencies tout reports from '01 to '09

CEBU, Philippines - The different heads of the land, sea and air transportation agencies yesterday presented their various accomplishments from 2001 to 2009 in an event called the “Ulat sa Bayan” at the Cebu Port Authority.

Department of Transportation and Communications undersecretary for Railways Guiling Mamondiong said that during this administration they achieved thrice what they did during the previous one in terms of project implementations on infrastructures and services.

The heads of offices who presented their respective accomplishments came from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board, Land Transportation Office, Coast Guard District Central Eastern Visayas, Maritime Industry Authority, Cebu Port Authority, Philippine Ports Authority, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority and Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

All these agencies are under the DOTC.

LTFRB regional director Romulo Bernardes said his agency’s income has increased from P12,265,531.27 in 2001 to P41,993,961.74 in 2009.

LTFRB also acquired a 1,000-square-meter lot which will be used for the construction of its own building in Mandaue City. The agency just like all the agencies under DOTC has likewise conducted medical and dental missions for the past several years. 

LTO and LTFRB have both conducted a series of road safety and drivers seminars as the latter implemented a taxi sequence number system with a purpose of identifying colorum units.

LTO regional director Raul Aguilos also presented that his agency was able to collect a total of P919,753,187.76 in 2009 alone. LTO has also continuously conducted roadside random drug testing and anti-smoke belching campaigns, among others.

The Marina also reported that it increased compulsory passenger insurance from the initial P20,000 to P200,000.

The Coast Guard said they were able to conduct 713,436 mandatory pre-departure inspections which resulted in the safe travel of 4,628,950 passengers.

They also conducted a total of 334 maritime search and rescue/retrieval operations that led to the rescue of 2,940 persons and recovery of 38 casualties.

With regards to marine environment protection, the Coast Guard said it conducted a total of 576 coastal cleanup activities and 210 “scubasurero” operations. They also conducted a total of 1,300 maritime security operations and 420 maritime operations in the transport of relief goods/people during disasters. 

The Civil Aviation Authority said it has completed the repairs of runways and other structures in the different airports in the region, the construction of tower buildings, rehabilitation of transmitters, and construction of perimeter fence, among others.

The MCIAA in their 2001-2009 accomplishment cited a consistent increase in volume in aircraft movement. Domestic flight increased from 24,340 in 2001 up to 37,328 in 2009 and international flights from 3,906 in 2001 up to 7,011 last year.

Likewise the number of domestic passengers increased from 1,855,432 in 2001 up to 3,841,990 in 2009 and for the international passengers from 397,370 in 2001 up to 920,913 in 2009.

In terms of revenues, MCIAA has collected a total of P1,089,100,000 in 2009 against the P559,413,000 in 2001.

The PPA reported completing multi-million projects over the same period including improvement and expansion of the different ports in the region.

PPA is likewise responsible for the development of 41 component ports for the Strong Republic Nautical Highway and other ro-ro ports. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)