MANILA, Philippines - As Holy Week approaches, the volume of passengers in shipping lines has reached almost 100 percent, the Coast Guard said yesterday.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Wilfredo Tamayo said he was informed, during their inspection at the two primary domestic shipping lines SuperFerry and Negros Navigation, that passengers on domestic routes went up to 90 percent.
“I was told that over the weekend, the passenger volume capacity was between 90 to 95 percent, compared to the lean months when vessels would travel according to their scheduled trips even if they were only 50 to 70 percent full,” he said.
The influx of passengers was attributed to the nearing Holy Week, when many take a vacation in the provinces.
Many of the passengers are students returning to their home provinces or taking a trip with family and friends.
Tamayo said he has given instructions to the Coast Guard’s 10 districts, 55 stations and some 194 detachments to strictly observe guidelines in the conduct of mandatory pre-departure inspection of vessels.
This includes the observance of vessel’s passenger capacity to prevent overloading; the adequacy, accessibility and number of lifejackets and life saving equipment, and if the number and qualification of vessel’s crew meet the prescribed requirements.
They also have medical teams and canines that are trained to sniff out explosives or dangerous drugs.
The Coast Guard has also maintained its sea marshals that join voyages, in addition to the shipping lines’ own security measures.
At the SuperFerry’s Eva Macapagal Terminal, close circuit television (CCTV) cameras, X-ray machines and a machine that would take a passenger’s photograph which would serve as a deterrence against criminals have been installed.
The shipping line believes that a passenger would allow his or her picture taken if he is not plotting a crime on board the ship.
But if a crime would be committed, the shipping line would have an image of the perpetrator.
The authorities would be provided with copies of the picture that could lead to his or her immediate arrest.
Green and holy
Environmental groups called yesterday for a “green” Holy Week and urged Filipinos to “cut back on garbage and pollution” when they remember the death of Jesus Christ.
EcoWaste president Roy Alvarez said abstaining from wasteful consumption during the holidays and beyond augurs well for Mother Earth and the future of the nation. – With Sheila Crisostomo