The Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) urged the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to ensure that travel in Davao’s coastal water is safe being the authority mandated to protect voyages of passenger-laden vessels in domestic routes.
PSSCC head Benito de Leon said the PCG has the expertise when it comes to sea vessels and it should make sure that all boats are safe to travel before allowing them to leave port.
“We reminded the Coast Guard of the things that they have to do. The mandate when it comes to chartered boats will come to them,” he said.
De Leon said this following Sunday’s incident near the Davao Wharf where a motorboat used for island hopping sank when a rope got entangled with its propeller. All 50 passengers and crew were rescued by PCG personnel and other agencies.
PCG Davao Commander Commodore George Maganto said PCG is closely coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) in investigating the incident and to ensure similar incidents will not happen in the future.
Maganto said PCG has been strictly implementing precautionary measures before allowing boats to sail.
He also advised tourists to look for the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) that Marina issued to transport providers before they enter into a contract with them for their island tour.
“CPC will prove that they have passed the standard of the Marina, and once they have that, it will be the banca’s ticket to pass our inspection,” he said. CIO
