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Death
stalks GMA’s nautical highway There is no doubt about it; We are still the maritime disaster capital of the world. And no amount of television, billboard and print advertisement prominently featuring GMA’s picture and extolling the "strong republic nautical highway" can obscure this fact. Since 1994, except for year 2000, records show that we have been chalking at least one maritime accident a year, claiming a total of more than 500 lives and costing millions of pesos of lost property. This does not include an assessment of the damage inflicted on the environment resulting from oil spills emanating from these maritime accidents. This 10-year casualty list may not be as infamous as the single-event sinking of the M/V Doña Paz in 1987 where over 3,000 people – considered to date as the worst sea tragedy, surpassing even the Titanic, in the whole world – were lost at sea or died by fire or drowning. But, in this day and age, our safety record is nonetheless appalling. Not much luck for Aboitiz The recent tragedy (Friday, 27th February 2004) involving Aboitiz Transport System’s SuperFerry 14 is the latest of inter-island shipping mishaps for the country. Luck was with the passengers of the SuperFerry 14 because the accident happened just miles from the coastal town of Cavite where numerous sea vessels could immediately respond. Even if there are still hundreds of families agonizing over the uncertain fate of those missing, chances are the death toll will not break records. But luck does not seem to be with the Aboitiz group lately. Last year, Super Ferry 12, another Aboitiz vessel, collided with the M/V San Nicolas resulting with 43 people dead and 21 missing. And the Aboitiz-controlled bank, Union Bank of the Philippines, was also in the limelight (remember the Jose Pidal episode?). Unsafe Nautical Highway We have devoted a number of columns in the past pointing out the need for our domestic shipping companies to shape up. In the article entitled, "May Day for Domestic Shipping" (Phi-lippine Star, 1st August 2003), we noted that safety in the sea-lanes continues to deteriorate. Over-aged vessels and vessels not maintained in accordance with international safety standards roam the seas and inflict losses to lives and properties with regular impunity. As a matter of routine, the government announces the formation of a multi-sectoral task force almost immediately after every maritime tragedy. But after the usual media hype that lasts for a couple of days about investigations and threats of "heads rolling," nothing much happens until the a new set of victims land the headlines. This is definitely another black mark to the much-ballyhooed "Strong Republic Highway" image. Problems Remain The Same Like a broken record, our shipping industry stakeholders cry for basic reforms. But the problems of ageing, substandard vessels that do not meet international standards of seaworthiness and incompetent shipping personnel persist. Ironically, Filipino seamen employed in international-going vessels are highly regarded and respected. This is exactly the opposite for local maritime industry personnel. Our better graduates of maritime school would rather risk their lives manning ships that are well-maintained and fitted with the latest equipment for communication and signals. It is generally known that those who fail to get jobs onboard international vessels end up in the inter-island ships. Of course, the local shipping firms offer wages that are only a tenth of what foreign ship owners pay. As a result, local shipping crews are not motivated enough and often uncaring of their vessels‚ maintenance and servicing. Likewise, customer care is also affected. Aside from low wages, our local shipping companies operate on very low budgets. If there is any regular maintenance, it is done with minimum standards. Worse, government supervision and regulation is not consistent and sustained. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), the government agency overseeing the maritime sector, only perks up when an incident occurs. Shall we go through a few days of breast-beating and blaming once again, and then lull ourselves into complacency and inaction hoping that there will not be any future shipping accidents? Even as poor personnel quality and maintenance continues; even as we permit substandard vessels to ply our seas? If there are really ghosts, may they haunt the conscience of MARINA and other government officials to the plight of the public that have no choice but to use our unsafe nautical highway.
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