Manila: Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Giovanni Lopez on Tuesday directed the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to fast-track the deployment of additional ships in Lucena ports to accommodate more passengers going to Romblon. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the DOTr to ensure there's an adequate number of passenger ships to service passengers going home to their families this Christmas. 'Marami tayong natanggap na reklamo sa mga pasahero na wala silang masakyan mula Lucena papuntang Romblon (We have received many complaints from passengers on lack of ships from Lucena to Romblon),' Lopez said in a news release.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lopez indicated that the Philippine Ports Authority had already prompted MARINA a few days ago to allow more ships to operate on the route in anticipation of the deluge of passengers. 'Taon-taon naman tayong may holiday rush. Hindi na 'yan bago. Dapat maaga pa lang ay nagplano na sila. At na-anticipate ang ano mang kakulangan at sitwasyon sa pag-dagsa ng mga uuwi nating mga kababayan (Every year we have a holiday rush. That's nothing new. They should have planned ahead of time and anticipated shortages and situations with the influx of our compatriots returning home),' he said.
Lopez emphasized his commitment to prioritizing the comfort and convenience of passengers in all modes of transportation. He expressed his intention to ask MARINA to explain the lack of planning for the anticipated rush of people. 'Kaya I will ask MARINA to explain bakit kinulang sila sa pagplano gayong lagi na nila itong ginagawa at hindi in-anticipate 'yung dagsa ng mga tao. Unfair sa mga pasahero natin 'yan, this really needs to be investigated (to explain why they lacked planning when they always do this and did not anticipate the rush of people. That's unfair to our passengers, this really needs to be investigated),' he added.
Apart from additional passenger ships, Lopez also directed the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to have its vessel on standby to offer Libreng Sakay (Free Ride) to stranded passengers in Lucena when necessary. 'May 600 passengers sa Lucena na papuntang Marinduque. Kaya na silang isakay ng bagong dating na barko na may 900-passenger capacity. 'Yung sa Romblon naman, ito ang mino-monitor natin. In case na kulang pa rin ang barko, kinausap ko na si Admiral Ronnie Gavan na i-handa ang BRP Gabriela Silang ng Philippine Coast Guard at maglibreng sakay ng mga pasahero pa-Romblon (There are 600 passengers in Lucena going to Marinduque. They can be boarded by a newly arrived ship with a 900-passenger capacity. As for Romblon, we are monitoring this. In case the ship is still not enough, I have already talked to Admiral Ronnie Gavan to prepare the BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard and free boarding of passengers to Romblon),' Lopez said.
Aside from the BRP Gabriela Silang, the PCG will also deploy two vessels with 100-passenger capacity each to bring passengers to Romblon: BRP Bagacay which will come from Manila, and BRP Suluan from Occidental Mindoro. Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office, upon the directive of Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao, inspected the passenger buses, taxis, and other public utility vehicles nationwide for the Christmas holiday rush. He said the LTO enforcers deployed K9 Units to assist them during the inspections of bus terminals upon the instruction of President Marcos.
