ILOILO City – An Iloilo board member passed a resolution urging municipal mayors to take appropriate actions to prevent sea tragedies.
“We don’t want what happened in Iloilo Strait to happen in our coastal jurisdictions,” 2nd District Board Member June Mondejar, proponent of the resolution, said on Friday.
On Aug. 3, three motorboats plying the Iloilo and Guimaras route, capsized at the Iloilo Strait, killing 31 people.
Mondejar said motorboats also operate in the coastal municipalities of Carles, Estancia, Ajuy, and San Dioniso, among others.
Motorboats in some coastal municipalities also ferry passengers from mainland to island villages.
Through the resolution, passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo on Aug. 20, municipal mayors in coastal towns were urged to meet with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and plan preventive measures.
“They have to meet with the PCG and plan on measures to prevent what happened in Iloilo Strait. The resolution will serve as a reminder for them,” Mondejar said.
He expressed confidence that municipal mayors will heed the call of the provincial board.
“If I am the municipal mayor, I will do what is needed to be done because I don’t want to be blamed by the people, criticized by the media, be made an issue of my political opponent. I don’t want sea tragedy to happen because it will be my conscience,” Mondejar said.
The rest of the coastal towns are expected to take preventive steps after the passage of the resolution.(With a report from PNA/PN)
