ILOILO City – Here’s one good news to people crossing the Iloilo Strait from this city to Guimaras and vice versa, and to operators of motorboats.
Pending the complete phase-out of wooden-hulled motorboats carrying passengers, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has reconsidered its prohibition on the use of canvas awnings / tarpaulins by motorboats.
However, according to MARINA Western Visayas director Jose Venancio Vero Jr., the installation of canvas awnings / tarpaulins is subject of several specifications and conditions.
An advisory from MARINA officer in charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. listed the following conditions:
* the maximum allowable length of tarpaulin / canvass shall be 50 percent of the overall length of the motorboat
* the maximum allowable width of tarpaulin / canvass shall be 80 percent of the breadth of the motorboat
* the tarpaulin / canvass shall be elevated to a maximum height of 1.80 meters from the uppermost part of the side shell and spread as much as possible straight horizontally
* the angle of inclination should not be more than 15 degrees from the horizontal line
* no passengers are allowed to occupy the portion above the machinery space up to the aft most part
* both sides (port and starboard) of the motorboat should have a minimum spacing in between post of 1.50 meters and minimum size of opening which is 1 meter x 1 meter
* for motorboats with fixed shed, it shall be elevated to a height of 1.80 meters from the uppermost part of the side shell and spread up to the moulded breadth.
Following the tragic capsizing of three motorboats at the Iloilo Strait on Aug. 3 that killed over 30 people, MARINA imposed several safety conditions, including the prohibition on the use of canvas awnings / tarpaulins that it said could cause motorboats to capsize if blown by strong winds.
But the prohibition did not sit well with motorboat passengers. It exposed them to the elements while crossing the Iloilo Strait such as the scorching heat of the sun and rain when there’s a downpour.
Even the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 6 expressed reservations. The prohibition had turned off Guimaras-bound tourists, resulting to a sharp drop – 90 percent – in tourist arrivals in the island province.
Except for the lifting of this prohibition on canvas awnings / tarpaulins, Vero said all other conditions on the safety limitations of wooden-hulled motorboats shall continue to be enforced.
Passengers are still required to wear lifejackets at all times throughout the voyage.
Motorboats shall continue carry passengers of only up to 75 percent of their authorized capacity.
All operations must only be from sunrise to sunset during fair weather condition.
Also, all motorboats should be equipped with distress signal equipment.
Vero made it clear that this latest advisory is “without prejudice to the implementation of the Transition Plan on the Phase-in / Phase out Program of wooden-hulled motorboats.”
Over the weekend Vero met with motorboat operators and representatives of their various associations to explain the new MARINA advisory. He said the new advisory may be observed right after this had been made clear to the stakeholders.
Vero said MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard would strictly enforce safety regulations.
With the lifting of the awnings / tarpaulins prohibition, it is unclear what would happen to DOT-6’s proposed “Guimaras Umbrella Festival” – a temporary solution to the inconvenience spawned by the MARINA order.
DOT-6 planned to make available to motorboats a thousand colorful umbrellas for the use of their passengers.
The umbrella project is a product of a recent DOT-organized consultation with Guimaras’ Gov. Samuel Gumarin, Cong. Lucille Nava, five town mayors of Guimaras, and private tourism industry stakeholders.
Consultation participants agreed there was a need to repackage Guimaras so the island province could again attract tourists./PN
