THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has denied the appeal of the Province of Guimaras to extend the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) of wooden-hulled boats plying the Guimaras-Iloilo route and vice versa that has expired on December 31, 2020.
A CPC is a franchise that grants permission to operate in certain public activities.
In a letter reply addressed to the Provincial Government of Guimaras, Marina Administrator retired Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad stood firm on the decision of the agency to cease the operation of the wooden motorbancas that cater to passengers going in and outside the province.
"However, in as much as we would like to accommodate their requests, we regret to inform the good governor that we can no longer delay the implementation of the phase-out program for wooden-hulled passenger ships under MC 2016-02," an excerpt from the letter of Empedrad to the Provincial Government of Guimaras.
The decision came after Governor Samuel Gumarin and the officials of the Provincial Government of Guimaras appealed to Marina and the Department of Transportation to hold forth the expiration of the CPC of the wooden-hulled motorbancas, which are the main form of sea transportation for Guimarasnons going to neighboring provinces particularly Iloilo.
Marina believed that the presence of limited number of fiber-glass and steel-hulled vessels can cater to thousands of passengers commuting daily to and from the island going to Iloilo City.
"On the apprehension that there will be shortage of boat service in the province, rest assured that Marina will field/invite other boat operators to operate in the routes should it become necessary. It is however our opinion that with the presence of two Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) boats and two steel-hulled ships in the Buenavista, Guimaras-Iloilo route, the route is sufficiently served, and with the presence of two FRP boats, one steel-hulled ship and three Ro-Ro vessels in the Jordan, Guimaras-Iloilo route, the route can be considered as fully served," added Empedrad.
The stoppage of operations of the wooden motorbancas has caused long queues of passengers at the wharves. These passengers are going to Iloilo City mainly for education and livelihood.
Meanwhile, around 400 sailors who were crew of the said motorbancas have lost their daily source of income after 91 wooden-hulled boats were phased out beginning January 1, 2021 despite the repeated plea of the Provincial Government and the motorbanca associations. (PR)