THE Visayan Association of Ferryboat and Coastwise Service Operators (VAFCSO) urged government to construct weighing scales in every Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) port in the country to lessen the cost of transporting products.
VAFCSO president Alexander Cohon and Director Jose Emery Roble said the public was wary about the proposal of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to invite the private sector to build weighing scales when it was the duty of the government to provide it.
Roble said RoRo ports and RoRo vessels, which are plying the Strong Republic Nautical Highways (SRNH), were intended to reduce the cost of transporting products from Mindanao to the Visayas and Luzon.
However, Roble said the concept of the RoRo system would be defeated if businessmen invested in and operated weighing scales because they would look for profits. On the other hand, if weighing scales are owned by government, it will be free.
Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, promised Cohon and Roble that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would be called to appear during the next transportation hearing in Leyte next week.
“Why choose the private sector and create doubt? If we want that no trucks which will be ferried by RoRo vessels will exceed its capacity, the government, through DPWH, must put weighing scales. There will be no additional costs to build it in other areas because DPWH has existing weighing scales,” Roble said.
Former president now House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who launched SRNH in 2003, was amenable to the recommendation of VAFCSO officials and promised to help request the DPWH to assume the responsibility of installing weighing scales in RoRo ports.
DPWH 7 Director Edgar Tabacon said it was up to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar to order them to install weighing scales in all RoRo ports.
He said weighing scales could help prevent the overloading of 10-wheeler trucks that could destroy roads and bridges.