Poe seeks Senate probe into Binangonan capsizing

Senator Grace Poe is seeking a Senate investigation into the capsizing of a passenger boat off Rizal's Binangonan town to determine if there were lapses in safety protocols and to seek accountability for the tragedy.

Poe filed Senate Resolution 704, saying the tragedy revealed serious maritime safety compliance lapses that needed revisiting to determine whether the regulations were insufficient to provide and ensure safe voyages or whether there was simply complacency in the implementation.

The lawmaker also stressed that those responsible for the deaths of at least 27 individuals and the trauma of the 43 rescued victims should be held accountable for the incident.

Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, reiterated the need for a National Transport Safety Board which will independently investigate incidents like this, determine probable causes, and issue safety recommendations and studies to prevent the repeat of such.

"Despite being an archipelago, the Philippines has a poor maritime safety record with people dying in sea mishaps yearly, usually on-board aging, wooden motorboats used for fishing or to move people from one small island to another," Poe said.

Resolution 705

Senator Raffy Tulfo filed a similar resolution which seeks hearings to gather expert opinions, testimonies, and inputs from stakeholders, to be used to craft legislation that strengthens maritime safety in the country.

Tulfo's Senate Resolution 705 urged the Philippine Coast Guard, the Maritime Industry Authority, and other relevant agencies to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Binangonan incident to identify the causes and determine any lapses in safety protocols, crew training, vessel maintenance, and any potential negligence.

Tulfo said in his resolution that those responsible for any negligence or lapses of relevant government agencies should be held liable and accountable.

The resolution also called for a review and enhancement of existing legislation and regulations concerning maritime safety, specifically on issues related to overloading, vessel stability, passenger capacity limits, emergency preparedness, and crew training.

Tulfo also mentioned the possibility of creating a task force or a committee composed of representatives from the PCG, MARINA, the Philippine Ports Authority, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Tourism, and other relevant agencies, to collaborate and formulate comprehensive recommendations to improve maritime safety standards.

Further, SR 705 asked the Senate to express its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the incident's victims and recognize the importance of implementing measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. — DVM, GMA Integrated News