Marina, Coast Guard urged: Ensure safety of life at sea

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure the safety of the passengers who will be coming to Cebu for the Sinulog festival.

Acting on the resolution sponsored by Councilor Edgardo Labella, the City Council urged MARINA and Coast Guard to intensify the inspection of emergency exits of all inter-island vessels, particularly the closed cabins and fast craft ferries.

Labella, who survived a sea mishap several years ago, said he observed that exit doors of some vessels are “not working properly, not locked or made immovable by rust.”

The councilor who travels frequently to visit his farm in Bohol said that some of the exit doors could not be used immediately in case of emergency because there are cargoes or equipment that blocks the passage.

Labella asked MARINA 7 director Glenn Cabañez and PCG 2nd district Commander Alejandro Flora to immediately act on it.

“It has been observed by passengers, including this representation, that emergency exits in some fast craft vessels are either locked or made immovable by rust,” Labella said.

According to Labella, the government should strictly monitor the safety of the vessels to ensure the lives of the passengers at sea.

Labella believes that shipping companies often take for granted the basic protocol of the safety of life at sea because of the government’s failure to conduct maintenance inspection. (FREEMAN)