BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A motor banca with 10 people aboard yesterday sank off the coast of Guimaras island.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Negros Occidental station chief Commander Joe Luviz Mercurio disclosed that boat capsized several miles away from the Inampulugan Island in Guimaras.
Mercurio said that the 10 passengers of the boatwere rescued by fishing boats and commercial vessels passing by the area, before the Coast Guard personnel stationed in Sibunag, Guimaras and Pulupandan, Negros Occidental who responded to the incident,arrived at the scene.
The stricken motor banca originated from Valladolid town in Negros Occidental and was towed by PCG personnel to Sibunag, while the passengers were brought back to Negros Occidental.
Mercurio disclosed that the motorized banca was not authorized to ferry passengers, as it did not have the necessary permits to operate the route.
While there is a ferry route between the towns of Valladolid and Pulupandan in Negros Occidental, bound for the towns of Sibunag and San Lorenzo in Guimaras, hehowever said the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) did not renew the permits of the wooden hulled passenger boats in the area.
Mercurio noted that it is becoming a perennial problem that some travelers are not utilizing the authorized ports of entry and exit not just in the province, but all over the country.
He recalled the two incidents that took place in Sagay City and San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, where more than 50 persons were rescued after two motorized bancas that were also not authorized to deliver passengers, capsized.
Mercurio informed the public that there are no authorized ferry operations between Pulupandan and Valladolid heading to Guimaras.
While understands that travelers were only trying to find a more convenient way of transportation, Mercurio advised them not to compromise their safety.*
