Aim for zero maritime accidents, no corruption, DOTr’s Tugade tells PCG

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade on Thursday told the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to aim for "zero" maritime accidents.

In a speech at the PCG headquarters at Pier 13 of the South Harbor in Manila, Tugade also reminded the Coast Guard officials and personnel of President Rodrigo Duterte’s strict policy against corruption.

“Ang ating mahal na Pangulo ay malaki ang pagtitiwala sa inyong kakayanan….Pagkat alam namin, sa inyong pag ganap ng inyong katungkulan, ay buhay ninyo ang nakataya,” Tugade said in a speech at the turn-over of a search and rescue vessel to the PCG by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

“Pero sana ho, sa paghahayag ng ating Pangulo ng kanyang pagtitiwala at pagmamahal sa inyo, ibig ko lang ipapaalala sa inyo bilang kalihim ng Department of Transportation ang kanyang isang patakaran na dapat hindi mabali at dapat bigyang buhay, bigyang lakas, ito ho yung patakarang ‘no corruption’,” Tugade added.

Tugade said this “no corruption” policy must apply to the PCG’s inspection of passenger and cargo ships and in the implementation of maritime laws.

“Ipakita ho natin na tayo ay gaganap ng ating katungkulan hindi sa pangakong regalo, hindi sa pangakong kailangan magkaroon ng lagay, hindi sa pangakong may matatanggap kung sila [ship owners] ay lalayag,” Tugade said.

“Ginagawa natin ang ating trabaho dahil ito ang ating katungkulan at dahil mahal natin ang ating mga kababayan,” he added.

It is part of the mandate of the PCG to conduct safety inspections of passenger and cargo vessels and give them clearance to sail.

After the ceremony, Tugade approached the PCG troops and said: “Ang gusto ko sana, ang target natin is zero maritime accident. Kaya ba natin ito?”

The PCG troops responded: “Yes sir!”

Many of the recorded maritime accidents for the past years were due to overloading of passengers and freight volumes.

Based on PCG data, 474 maritime accidents were recorded in 2015, more than twice the 220 maritime accidents recorded in 2008.

On Thursday, the PCG formally acquired from the Japanese government a 44-meter search and rescue vessel through a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

PCG commandant Rear Admiral William Melad said the multi-role response vessel (MRRV), named BRP Tubbataha, will be deployed for patrol operations in the West Philippine Sea.

He, however, said there are nine more MRRVs that will be turned over to the PCG in 2017 and in 2018 which will be deployed in the country's seas to improve the Coast Guard’s response capability during maritime incidents. — BM, GMA News