Rules on marine vessels movement during typhoon mulled
Should vessels and motorboats be allowed to operate or ply their routes in a locality placed under public storm signal No.1?
This has been the subject of debate and questions these past weeks and will be the main subject of a public hearing that will be conducted by the Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) on November 13 here to consult Ilonggos on a Memorandum Circular entitled “Interim Guidelines on Movement of Vessels and Motorboats Engaged in Short Distance Voyages in Special Areas.”
Coast Guard District Commander Commodore William M. Melad said the proposed memo circular is intended to prescribe policies and procedures in the movement of vessels and motorboats during fair weather condition in the locality despite being declared to be under Pubic Storm Warning Signal Number 1 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).
Melad added that the said circular shall apply to vessels and motorboats of 1,000 gross tons and below engaged in short distance voyages operating in special areas within the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.
The consultation activity will be held at 9:00 A.M. at the conference room of the headquarters of Coast Guard District Western Visayas in Bo. Obrero here.
The Philippine Coast Guard, whose main role involves maritime laws enforcement and border control, is the oldest armed service of the country and traces its roots to 1901, three years after the Americans came.
On October 17 of that year the Insular Government through the Philippine Commission enacted a law creating the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation. The Captain of the Port was designated as the bureau director. (PIA 6-JSC)