Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has signed a Joint Memorandum Circular on anti-overloading on sea travel and ordered electronic ticketing at Batangas Port to ensure the safety, comfort, and less travel time of passengers, especially this Holy Week.
“May pinirmahan akong Joint Memorandum Circular between PPA, MARINA, Coast Guard at DOTr sa anti-overloading for sea travel. Ang pinaka-importante, lalo na sa panahon na napakaraming bumibyahe ay ang safety ng ating mga kababayan,” Dizon said after inspecting the Batangas Port recently.
“Ang pinaka-importante, lalo na sa panahon na napakaraming bumibyahe ay ang safety ng ating mga kababayan.”
The transport chief said that under the anti-overloading circular, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) will ensure the efficient operations of seaports. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on the other hand, will strictly implement weight limit of vessels based on boarding passengers and vehicles, while the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will impose penalty on a shipping company that violates anti-overloading.
“Seryoso ang gobyerno dito. Hindi natin iko-compromise, iri-risk ang safety at seguridad ng mga biyahero natin,” the transport head stressed.
He added that another anti-overloading measure is the e-ticketing system, where passengers can buy tickets through kiosks inside the port.
“Makakatulong ng malaki ang e-ticketing para hindi mag overload.”
“May inapprove na kami at magro-roll out na ang PPA ng e-ticketing system. Ang mga biyahero natin hindi na kailangan pumila at kumuha ng physical na ticket,” Dizon explained. “Makakatulong ng malaki ang e-ticketing para hindi mag overload. Pag may e-ticketing na, mamomonitor na kung sobra na ang benta ng tiket, stop na.”
Meanwhile, he cited the improvements at the passenger terminal building (PTB) of the Batangas Port such as clean comfort rooms, covered walkway for passengers, prayer room, nursing room, as well as luggage trolley and shuttle for seniors and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
