Accord inked to improve cleanliness aboard ships

CEBU, Philippines – Sea vessels are a major part of Cebu and the rest of the Visayas islands, and yet, problems on cleanliness in ships continue to plague the public.

With this, two government agencies tasked to oversee sanitation issues and shipping operations signed an agreement to improve cleanliness in sea vessels.

The Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of a Joint Sanitation Inspection Team (JSIT).

This, according to MARINA and BOQ, will ensure that passenger ships are clean and properly maintained.

The MARINA VII has been receiving complaints from the riding public regarding common sanitation problems and unsatisfactory service of some passenger ships.

"Over the years we have been observing and receiving common plights from the public that some, though not all, of the passenger ships do not provide proper sanitation onboard," said Nannette Z. Villamor-Dinopol, MARINA 7 Director.

The MARINA is mandated to ensure that the minimum service standards set for the ship's passenger accommodation is observed and maintained.

Dinopol added that they need the full cooperation of both the shipowners and the riding public.

The ship owners should comply with the rules and regulations and must be readily committed to do so, while the public must be vigilant as well as cooperate in observing a culture of cleanliness.

Senior Quarantine Medical Officer Emmanuel C. Labella said that the Bureau of Quarantine is tasked to perform functions for the promotion and maintenance of sanitation of ports, including sanitation of the inter-island vessels.

He added that MARINA is tasked mainly with the safety of the vessels and sea worthiness but because sanitation is part of safety, MARINA also plays an active role in the implemen-tation of standards on sanitation.

"The untiring efforts of the personnel of MARINA in the past years as well as the Bureau of Quarantine have contributed much to the improvement of sanitation status of the inter-island vessels…The level of sanitation of the vessels of some shipping companies such as Super Ferry, Sulpicio, Cokaliong, Light Shipping, Trans-Asia, Roble and Cebu Ferries are worth men-tioning and emulating," said Labella. (FREEMAN)