AT THE MOMENT, there is only one way of going to Guimaras from Iloilo and vice versa and that is thru motorboats via the Iloilo Strait. Many residents of Guimaras, students, office workers and businessmen cross this unpredictable strait everyday and scores of motorboats ferry them.
From Iloilo, hundreds, too, take these boats to Guimaras. The island province is a tourist hub and many visitors – local and foreign – have made a visit to Guimaras a must, what with its sweet mangoes, white-sand beaches, stunning dive sites, and even the annual Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid, a Lenten dramatization of the passion and death of Jesus Christ.
The capsizing of three motorboats at the Iloilo Strait in August was a wakeup call to all concerned, most especially those involved in the maritime industry.
The bigger question now lies on the seaworthiness of these motorboats and the system in transporting people. True enough, the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard have instituted strict measures. But the August tragedy which claimed over 30 lives raised many questions on the quality of the motorboats, the capability of coastguard personnel in search and rescue, the state of Guimaras’ economy and its tourism industry in particular, and the readiness of local government units of both Guimaras and Iloilo City in responding to sea emergencies.
With the increasing flow of people from Iloilo to Guimaras and vice versa, safety requirements must be strictly enforced – the seaworthiness of the motorboats, provision of life boats and life jackets, communications systems, passenger manifests, and clear-cut procedures to follow when there are weather advisories.
With foresight, proper planning and preparation, we can avoid the unnecessary loss of lives at sea even if we cannot control the weather.
