Saturday, April 19, 2008 Nalzaro: Inefficient service at the Cebu port By Bobby Nalzaro Saksi
THE Provincial Board (PB) of Zamboanga del Norte has passed a resolution strongly urging the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) to make more efficient its service, particularly in conveying passengers from the terminal to the vessels. This after the sad experience of Board Member Cedric Adriatico and hundreds of passengers of a George and Peter Lines vessel bound for Dipolog City last March 28.
Adriatico said he attended the national convention here of the Provincial Board Member's League of the Philippines. On March 28, he decided to take the 9 p.m. boat bound for Dipolog. He arrived for routine inspection at the CPA terminal ahead of the scheduled time for departure.
For security reasons, CPA requires passengers to pass the terminal for inspection before they are brought to their vessels by a CPA shuttle bus.
Adriatico said it was almost 9 p.m. but no CPA bus served the Dipolog-bound passengers, who had started to become anxious and irritated. (A George and Peter van only brings passengers from their office to the terminal.)
The lack of a CPA shuttle bus irked the passengers and forced the security guard to open the terminal gate. Passengers then walked from the terminal in Pier 1 to Pier 2, the berthing area of George and Peter vessels.
Adriatico said he pitied the children and the elderly. Those carrying big bags had to hire porters to help them. Worse, it was raining.
I was informed that incidents like this usually happen especially on days when several vessels leave the Cebu port. I think CPA does not have enough buses to serve the passengers. Imagine how many vessels leave daily the port of Cebu, the country's shipping capital.
The PB resolution partly read: “The CPA has been inefficient in its service to out-bound passengers. It is a disservice to the people resulting in inconvenience. In effect, it is detrimental to the tourism industry not only of Cebu but also of nearby destinations, like the province of Zamboanga del Norte, whose routes to and from Cebu are served mainly by ships. CPA's dismal service discourages maritime travel.”
The Board’s recommendations:
--Acquire and field more shuttle service buses or decentralize the port terminal security structures to have one in each pier in the Port of Cebu;
--At all times and whenever necessary, allow vans of shipping companies like George and Peter Lines to help transport passengers to their vessel;
--Immediately bring to their vessels passengers waiting at the terminal, especially those who come early;
--Assign CPA personnel at the terminal to provide updated information to the passengers.
In a text message, CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan promised to look into the lapses in their service and extended his apologies to the passengers. He said that the unfortunate incident will serve as a wake up call.
Well, we are not questioning CPA's policy on thorough inspection of passengers because it is also for the safety of sea travelers. But CPA should see to it that passengers won’t be inconvenienced.
