PNP reshuffle next week

While everyone's eyes is focused on the results of the elections last Monday, it's time to leave the counting to the people behind C-Cimpel as there are more pressing problems the government has to look into. This time it has something to do with the blast that struck the M/V Butuan City 1 of Gothong Lines as it was leaving the Port of Cebu early Tuesday evening. This explosion killed three people and injured 12 others, mostly passengers.

With the ever-present terror threat always on our minds, the big question is, what was the cause of that explosion? Was it a bomb or was it a total engine failure? Call Gothong Lines very lucky that this vessel was still within in the safety of the Mactan Channel and not in the middle of the sea when its engine blew out otherwise it could have been under the mercy of the seas and a greater disaster could have happened. 

If the blast was caused by a terror bomb, then there's something terribly wrong with the Cebu Port and Gothong's security systems. If it were due to an engine failure, it would expose Gothong's poor maintenance of its vessels. This brings us to mind whether there were previous fires reported by this shipping company or whether they have complied with Marina's National Ship Management Safety Programs? We do not want to wallow on bad experiences as no one wants them; rather, we would like to learn lessons from them in the hope that these incidents will not be repeated. 

 Early morning yesterday, I was listening to the CCTN reporter Jun Veloso making his report on the M/V Butuan City 1 that the engine of this vessel was recently repaired. He also reported that the passengers (including those who were hurt) were not given any assistance as they disembarked at the Cebu Port. Come now, were they really left on their own?

I believe that the Maritime Industry Regulatory Agency (Marina) ought to seriously look into this problem and perhaps come up with a standard operating procedure as to what the ship crew ought to do in such cases, that's if they haven't done that already. Meanwhile, let's just wait for the reports from Maritime investigators as to what was the cause of this incident.

A month ago we were critical of Cebu Pacific Air because of the incessant delays happening with their scheduled flights. I have since met with Mr. Charles Lim and Ms. Candice Iyog a couple of weeks ago and personally asked them on behalf of our readers to resolve their problems as soon as possible, which they promised to do. I'm sure that delays are also happening with the other players in the Airline industry.

Because of the articles we wrote and with this recent incident with the Gothong Lines, I guess now is the best time to exhort the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to ask everyone in the Air, Land and Sea Transportation Industry to come up with a Bill of Rights for their passengers. I'm sure that with the big number of neophyte Congressmen entering the House of Representatives they're just looking for new laws to be legislated, which I'm certain will also be highly controversial.

But in truth, there is nothing wrong with the DOTC requiring all Shipping Companies, Airlines and Bus companies to come up with a Bill of Rights (this may vary depending on what standards of the shipping company) for its passengers so at least if a ship fails to reach its port of call, the passengers will know what they can expect from the shipping company. If the vessel or their plane is cancelled or delayed, the passengers would already be appraised as to what they can get from the transport company.

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Meanwhile, this incident once more reminds me of my recent conversation with newly re-elected Rep. Raul del Mar for the need to create a new government agency akin to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States of America, which is an independent investigating body that looks into maritime, aviation and land transportation accidents or disasters. One of my favorite tv programs is National Geographic's "Seconds from Disaster" which gives us graphic details piecing together vital information as to why a particular disaster happened.

For a long time now, it is the Marina that investigates ship disasters, the Air Transportation Office (ATO) for air disaster and the police for bus accidents. But these people are not trained to investigate down to the minute detail why such disasters happen. Worse, they are the gov't agency tasked to monitor the safety regulations of these transport companies, which you should know by now can be shortened due to corruption. When we have our own NTSB, then they will be the ones who will investigate such disasters… in a more professional manner.