Lawmaker Seeks Review of Philippine Coast Guard’s Memorandum Circular

A lawmaker has filed a resolution urging the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to review Philippine Coast Guard’s Memorandum Circular No. 02-13 pertaining to the guidelines on movement of vessels during heavy weather.

House Resolution 2137, authored by Rep. Rene L. Relampagos (1st District, Bohol), seeks to amend the policy on the cancellation of sea travel when Public Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No. 1 is hoisted, taking into consideration the positions submitted by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and ship owners and ferryboat operators.

Relampagos said ship owners and ferryboat and coastwise service operators strongly feel that there is an urgent need to look into the feasibility of implementing a more reasonable start of the no sail period after PSWS No. 1 is hoisted, particularly in areas where inter-island trips are short, and allowing ship captains’ decision to sail after the typhoon.

Relampagos said PSWS No. 1 is declared in an area if winds of 30-60 kilometers per hour (kph), approximately 16-32 knots, are expected in the locality in at least 36 hours.

Relampagos said the PCG Memorandum Circular No. 02-13 prescribes that no vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, when PSWS No. 1 or higher is hoisted within its point of origin, the intended route, and point of destination.

Relampagos said the automatic and immediate cancellation of sea travel when the typhoon is still 36 hours away has caused unnecessary and costly disruption in the flow of sea transport, affecting local and foreign tourists, shippers and consignees of cargoes, especially of perishable goods, and the general riding public.

“The present policy on cancellation of sea travel has negatively affected the country’s tourism industry, and has caused undue inconvenience to tourists and disruption to pre-arranged itineraries, hotel bookings and flight schedules. These delays have evidence multiplier effects on all the players in the tourism industry, as well as other vital industries in the country,” Relampagos said.

Relampagos said PAGASA has come up with the position that disallowing all ships from sailing while an area is under PSWS No. 1 will affect the seafarer industry, specifically when the travel time from one point to another is only six hours or less.

“In fact PAGASA recommended for the PCG to go with the policy of reduced 24-hour NO SAIL WINDOW but with precaution taking into consideration the current weather situation such as sea condition, sky condition, visibility, rainfall, wind speed/direction and trend of atmosphere pressure over the area of ship’s origin, route and destination,” Relampagos said.

Relampagos said the recommendation of PAGASA is critical to the effective flow of sea transportation and must be given serious consideration by the PCG and the DOTC.

The co-authors of the measure are Reps. Sherwin Gatchalian (1st District, Valenzuela City), Rodel Batocabe (Party-list, Ako Bicol), Franz Alvarez (1st District, Palawan), Mercedes Cagas (1st District, Davao del Sur) and Abraham Tolentino (7th District, Cavite). (PNA) SCS/PR/EBP