GMA allows Sulpicio to resume operations but only to ferry cargo

MANILA, Philippines – More than a month after the MV/ Princess of the Stars sank, Sulpicio Lines Inc. (SLI) will be allowed to operate again but only to ferry cargo after passing inspection by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

President Arroyo and ship owners reached the agreement after meeting for more than two hours at the Malacañang sa Sugbo in Cebu yesterday, during which she directed Marina to complete its audit of SLI cargo vessels soonest so their cargo transport operations can resume.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Transportation Undersecretary Maria Elena Bautista said the ship owners raised three major concerns:

• The piling up of about 10,000 20-footer containers in various ports, especially in the Visayas and Mindanao;

• The displacement of the SLI employees and other port workers; and

• The issue on salary standards of Filipino seafarers working here compared to those working overseas.

Additional vessels will be deployed to ease the backlog of cargo created by the grounding of SLI vessels, she added.

Bautista said at least five more cargo vessels from Aboitiz, Negros Navigation and National Marine Corp. will sail for ports where cargo have piled up.

Aboitiz Transport Systems Corp. committed two ships with a capacity of 500 20-footer container vans; Negros Navigation one 250 20-footer container capacity; and National Marine Corp. committed another two with 300 containers capacity, she added.

Bautista said SLI’s eight roll-on-roll-off passenger vessels are also expected to help solve the problem as soon as Marina clears them.

However, SLI will still be banned from ferrying passengers, she added.

Neither Bautista nor Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza could say until when the passenger ferry ban on SLI would last.

Marina will inspect the machinery of SLI vessels and the qualifications of the crew, Mendoza said.

Bautista said SLI officials told them that they have already corrected the minor defects found by Marina inspectors on eight of their 14 vessels.

A team from Marina already started the re-inspection yesterday afternoon and is expected to finish within the day, she added.

The cleared vessels can resume  ferrying cargo, she said.

Mrs. Arroyo also ordered Presidential Management Staff chief Cerge Remonde and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to work on giving financial assistance to displaced SLI employees, Bautista said.

Other shipping firms invited to the meeting were Cokaliong Shipping, Trans-Asia Shipping, Ocean Fast Ferries, and Gothong Southern Shipping.

Upon  arrival yesterday, Mrs. Arroyo headed straight to the Gun-ob High School in Lapu-Lapu City, where she led the ribbon cutting and the unveiling of markers of classrooms and an open court donated by philanthropist Ramon Chui.

BMI told to add details to report

Coast Guard Commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo ordered yesterday the six-member Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) to put “more supporting details” in its final report on the sinking of the Princess of the Stars.

“The report was well written, but after reviewing the report, I noticed that there could still be some improvements so I decided that it should be returned to the BMI so they could put more supporting information to back up their findings and recommendations,” he said.

Lt. Cmdr. Armand Balilo, Coast Guard spokesman, said BMI chairman Rear Admiral Ramon Liwag personally delivered the report, along with the annexes, evidence and exhibits, to Tamayo at the House of Representatives at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Tamayo attended the House committee hearing on the capsizing of the 23,824.17 – gross ton ship, he added.

Balilo said Tamayo has the prerogative to review the BMI report and ask that a re-investigation be conducted.

“He has discretion on these matters,” he said.

Once he receives a copy of the amended report, he would review it again before submitting it to Mendoza on Friday or Saturday, Tamayo said. 

– Fred Languido, Wenna Berondo, Michelle Palaubsanon Joeberth Ocao, Jasmin Uy, Jessica Ann Pareja, Evelyn Macairan, Marvin Sy