‘Ban boat overloading in marsh’

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – The provincial disaster risk reduction and management council is urging municipal councils to enact ordinances disallowing the overloading of small motorized boats in the Liguasan marsh and big rivers straddling Maguindanao to prevent a repeat of last Monday’s mishap that caused the deaths of 10 passengers.

The office of Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu said the league of mayors in the province will spearhead efforts to enforce measures to ensure the safety of passengers of boats in the 220,000-hectare delta.

The vast Liguasan marsh is surrounded by the Central Mindanao provinces of North Cotabato, Maguindanao and Sultan Kudarat.