Philippine Maritime Industry plus Philippine Politics is a deadly mix.

Last June 21, 2008, at the height of typhoon Frank (International name- typhoon Fengsen) the MV Princess of the Stars of Sulpicio Lines sunk near Subuyan Island in Romblon. Sulpicio Lines reported that of 825 listed passengers only 52 survived the tragedy.

Now, here comes the SuperFerry 9, within just about a year. AGAIN? What the!!!….

If you could still remember that the Philippine Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI), after the well publicized investigation, concluded that Sulpicio Lines and its captain were liable for the capsizing of MV Princess of the Stars. 773 human beings were lost!

BMI also reported the  lapses of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the MARINA, and also of PAG-ASA. It also listed immediate recommendations and courses of actions to the Professional Regulations Commission, MARINA, the shipping companies, the PCG, PAG-ASA, PPA, and local governments.

And the most important to me, the BMI pushed for the passage of a new Merchant Shipping Act to replace the current and quite obsolete laws. Several of our law makers tried but failed to answer this call. The Inquirer.net quoted Sen. Rodolfo Biazon:

The horrible frequency of maritime disasters in our country, where the ferry system is the major means of transportation between our 7,100 islands, is an indictment of our entire maritime industry and the government regulators and lawmakers.

He blames his own branch of government for having failed all these decades to pass strict laws to reform the maritime industry.

I remember a special report of the Manila TImes last July 06, 2008: Why are bills to reform the maritime industry not being attended to?

The article summarized several bills that were filed with several committees. There were 7 bills filed. But we never heard of them since and here is what the special report says:

The lone local bill among the seven bills on maritime industry, Rep. Thelma Almario’s HB 4357 which was filed June 11, 2008, two days before Congress adjourned sine die on June 13, is still pending for first reading.

The big question is why the bills on the maritime industry are moving at a very slow pace and are almost static.

Is it because some members of the House of Representatives are owners of shipping lines and the measure might affect their business?

This is the 64-million-dollar question that needs to be addressed soonest.

With the sinking of the Super Ferry 9, I really don’t know what else is needed for our elected officials to reform the Philippine maritime industry. And with that multi-million-dollar campaign capabilities, I really don’t know if we, as a Filipino Nation, are still capable of electing the right leaders.

This coming election, please remember what the few hundred bills inside an envelope may cost us in the future.

(Article Sources: Inquirer.net, manilatimes.net, wikipedia.org, ufs.ph)

(Photo Sources: AP, Rueters, AFP)