MARINA

THE TRANSPORTATION department’s maritime sector said more measures are being implemented to address the congestion at the Matnog-Allen route, a major passage connecting Luzon in the north to the Visayas in central Philippines. 

In a Jan. 19 joint statement, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said that with vessels servicing the route resuming full commercial operations on Jan. 18, “additional measures are expected to dramatically lessen the inconvenience” now being experienced by stake holders and port users.” 

A transport agency reported on Monday that nearly 800 vehicles and about 5,000 people were stranded along the highway leading to the Matnog Port in Sorsogon due to damaged ramps for roll-on, roll-off and fastcraft vessels.  

“The PPA shall work to immediately complete all the necessary repairs on office facilities damaged by typhoon Odette at the Port of Matnog, in order to encourage additional frequency of vessel calls from existing, and other vessel operators looking to service the route,” the maritime agencies said.

They also said that Marina will strictly enforce an on-time turnaround of trips for vessels plying the route for ​better scheduling and predictability.

For its part, the PCG is expected to take over the management of queueing of vehicles leading towards the Port of Matnog. 

Meanwhile, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento, House transportation committee chair, said he wrote a letter to President Rodrigo R. Duterte to seek assistance in finding a solution to the recurring problem. 

He said that Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade assured him that the government would address the issue of congestion and had put in place measures to stop port corruption.

“The House Committee on Transportation received several complaints regarding the recurring issue of congestion and corruption in the Port of Matnog in Sorsogon,” Mr. Sarmiento said. — Arjay L. Balinbin

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