By Junex Doronio
AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION is better than a pound of cure, so goes the age-old adage that apparently keeps the Philippine Coast Guard on alert as 20,000 PCG personnel were tasked to secure the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) on Monday, October 30.
At the same time, the PCG on “Undas” (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day) will have to make sure there will be no overloading on vessels from November 1 to Nov. 2.
“Paulit ulit na lang bawat may hindi magandang nangyayari ay mayroong hindi nakasulat [sa manifest]. Kawawa ang pasahero, lalo na ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay, dahil nagkakaron ng komplikasyon sa pag-claim nila ng insurance,” PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gavan said on Sunday in a radio interview.
He also disclosed that Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista ordered them to ensure that there would be no excess passengers boarding vessels or motor bancas, and all passengers should be on the manifest.
The PCG chief stressed that shipping operators also have the responsibility to ensure that passengers are not carrying overweight bags and other belongings to avoid overloading.
Gavan said the PCG had been on “heightened alert” from October 25 to November 5 as part of preparations for both BSKE and “Undas”.
(ai/mnm)
