MANILA, Philippines - Six major shipping organizations, representing 90 percent of the domestic shipping industry, threatened yesterday to go on a maritime holiday beginning March 1 if President Arroyo would not fire Maritime Industry administrator Ma. Elena Bautista within 10 days.
Ed Pastrana, president of the Philippine Roro Operators Association (PROA) and spokesman for the coalition of shipping operators, said they want Bautista removed from office because of her “defective memorandum circulars” and inability to address major problems in the maritime industry.
Those calling for Bautista’s ouster are the PROA, Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators, United Trampers Association of the Philippines, Lighterage Association of the Philippines, Metro Manila Tugs, Boats and Barges Owners Association, and the Alliance of Philippine Fishing Federation.
In the two-page letter crafted following their two-hour meeting, the shipping organizations jointly declared: “We the ship owners are unanimous in our sentiments that Marina should be led by a respected professional, experienced in the maritime industry, and respectfully urge you to immediately remove the current Marina administrator and grant the shipping sector an observer status in the Marina board.”
They urged authorities to review comprehensibly questionable and defective memorandum circulars Bautista issued and subject these to consultation with all stakeholders of the industry before their implementation.
Pastrana said their group commands over 500 ships that transport passenger and cargo in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
This would also mean that some 3,000 employees of shipping lines would be affected by their protest.
The big shipping lines that cater to long-distance routes said they would not join the strike.
Earlier, Bautista had threatened to suspend ship owners’ franchises or certificates of public convenience if they proceed with the maritime holiday. - Evelyn Macairan