JORDAN, Guimaras – Very inconvenient. This was how Guimarasnons crossing the Iloilo Strait in going to Iloilo City everyday described the dearth of motorboats servicing them.
“Tama gid kaperwisyo kapin pa sa amon nga naga-obra. Kinahangkan namon mag-abot sa amon obra aga pa,” said Ramie Ibieza, 43, of Barangay Poblacion, Jordan.
Only 10 sea vessels are currently servicing the Iloilo City – Guimaras route and vice versa. On Jan. 1 the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) grounded some 60 wooden-hulled motorboats servicing the route. The extension of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) which expired in September 2020 ended on Dec. 31.
“Tama gid kabudlay sa amon. Ang pila puerte kalaba tapos ang karga sang fast craft limitado pa kay ginapatuman ang social distancing,” Ibieza told Panay News.
The grounding of most motorboats resulted to the glutting of passengers at the Jordan and Buenavista wharves in Guimaras and at the Ortiz wharf, Iloilo Ferry Terminal-Parola and Lapuz wharf in Iloilo City.
“Sa 17 years ko nga pauli aga kag hapon, subong lang ako naka-experience nga amo ‘ni kabudlay. Grabe gid ang antos,” said Ibieza.
For public safety reasons, however, MARINA, is pushing through with its policy phasing out wooden-hulled boats and pushing for the shift to steel or fiberglass-hulled boats.
The shortage in motorboats has also resulted to an increase in boat fare to as much as P50.
For his part, Vincent Gefes of Barangay San Miguel, Jordan and an employee of the Iloilo provincial capitol wondered if MARINA had sufficiently prepared for the adverse effects of its grounding of wooden-hulled boats.
“Pila lang ang fiberglass boats sa Jordan nagabalik-balik sang biyahe,” said Gefes. “Wala sila nagpanumdom sang halit sa mga tawo?”
Meanwhile, “Grace” from Nueva Valencia, Guimaras said reporting to work late was embarrassing. So she decided to temporarily stay with a relative in Iloilo City.
She urged MARINA to grant wooden-hulled boats a new CPCN or add more modern boats to serve the Iloilo City to Guimaras route./PN
