By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, July 6 (PNA) – Sen. Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV on Monday said he would push for the investigation on the seaworthiness of maritime vessels in the country after the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Benigno Aquino III on July 27.
Aquino called on the appropriate committee to act on Senate Resolution No. 652, which he already filed in May last year, in the wake of the recent sea tragedy that claimed the lives of 45 people in Ormoc City.
”We really want to know the seaworthiness of our ships. We’re hoping that after the SONA, it can be investigated if our maritime vessels are safe,” Aquino said in a radio interview.
Aquino said he would specifically check the seaworthiness of the RORO (roll-on, ro-off) which, he noticed, uses old if not dilapidated vessels.
In the resolution, Aquino stressed the duty of the national government to implement positive guidelines that can reduce, if not resolve, the recurring maritime accidents for the past decades.
“It should give appropriate emphasis on the seaworthiness of our vessels and must demonstrate stronger commitment in the effective implementation of the laws in order to safeguard the safety of the public,” he said.
The senator also urged the ship owners and the public not to travel by sea specially now that tropical storm Egay is still in the Philippine area of responsibility.
”Our countrymen specially those traveling by sea should be careful,” Aquino said. (PNA)