Amid the Senate work suspension due to typhoon Enteng recently, Senator Raffy Tulfo coordinated with various government agencies under his Senate Public Services Committee through a zoom meeting.
Tulfo immediately warned the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to ensure strict monitoring and inspection of all sea vessels.
The legislator stressed that no maritime vessels should be allowed to sail due to the bad weather.
“Those who would be permitted to sail because their route was not affected by typhoon Enteng must be seaworthy, not overloaded and have sufficient life vests.”
However, the lawmaker added that those who would be permitted to sail because their route was not affected by typhoon Enteng must be seaworthy, not overloaded and have sufficient life vests for the onboard passengers and crew.
It can be recalled that in the past, there were a lot of reports about tragedies at sea caused by bad weather, wherein a sea craft was able to sail but sank and led to many deaths due to overloading and lack of life vests. Later, it was found out that this was caused by the negligence of the PCG.
Meanwhile, the senator was happy by the information gathered from Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Spokesperson Eunice Samonte who told him that even though more than 4,000 passengers were stranded at the piers, the PPA prepared enough free snacks, drinks, and proper accommodation for them.
Tulfo, however, still warned Samonte that if the information she provided to him was not true, then someone will be held accountable.
The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) management, on the other hand, earned the ire of Tulfo after he received information that there were tubs and trays scattered in NAIA terminals on Sept. 2 to catch rainwater from the roof with holes.
MIAA Spokesperson Atty Chris Bendijo, for his part, immediately acted on said concern and personally went around NAIA terminals to inspect the leaking roofs. Bendijo promised to Tulfo that he would urgently find a way to prevent the same problem from happening again.
Still, Tulfo stressed that if it happens again, many MIAA personnel will be punished.
“Ensure that the airway passenger bill of rights of stranded passengers in NAIA terminals is followed.”
Furthermore, he ordered. Bendijo to ensure that the airway passenger bill of rights of stranded passengers in NAIA terminals is followed, including the availability of free snacks, bottled water and proper accommodation for them.
He also ordered the MIAA Spokesperson to make sure that all VIP airport lounges, except those owned by airlines, should be reserved for senior citizens, PWDS, pregnant women and others who need assistance and places to stay during times like this.
Tulfo also instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) Deputy Dir. Gen. Atty. Danjun Lucas to cancel all the flights of small and light aircraft in general aviation, especially those that are privately owned or those that are leased.
In the past, Tulfo said many small aircraft and helicopters have crashed or disappeared due to the hardheadedness of general aviation people who decided to fly even when the weather is bad, especially in the province where monitoring is not strict.
Lucas then promised Tulfo to follow his instruction.
