TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) – The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Western Bohol is urging Boholanos to help them implement applicable safety rules at sea to equip tourists with a fighting chance to be safe even during sea-crossing accidents.
PCG chief master-at-arms (CMAA) Ensign Lito Pascua Jr., during the Kapihan sa PIA, said while they are covering the six designated jump-off areas to Panglao’s island hopping and dolphin watching tours, in their case, familiarity with the uniformed men allows fly-by-night operators to slip out into the sea from non-designated departure points.
Pascua’s call came amid the implementation of the Recreational Safety Evaluation and Inspection (RSEI), which the PCG has been tasked to implement to ensure recreational safety especially in tourism related marine and aqua activities.
Last June, the PCG brought to Bohol its information campaign on recreational safety in a re-echo engagement with Bohol’s leading beach resort owners, especially those with swimming pool operations, beachfront marine activities, and dive tours.
PCG deputy commander for maritime safety command, Commodore Rommel Supangan, explained that the forum aimed to update resort owners and water recreational activities operators of the most recent updates in safeguarding guests, especially in Bohol which is one of the busiest hubs for marine recreational tourism activities in the country.
According to the Maritime Authority of the Philippines (MARINA), all passengers carrying boats must have onboard a licensed captain’s, vessel registration, a recreational boat safety certificate, vessel permit to operate, passenger cruise license, boat registration and communications equipment to be inspected every time a vessel departs.
Also for PCG boarding team inspection are safety equipment labels, at least one approved life vest for each person on board, a life ring of at least 24 inches in diameter with 75 feet of rope, a set minimum 3 kg anchor with chain at least 1/3 the length of the vessel and 100 feet of Sinking Marine Rope, 2 sets mooring lines at least 10 ft long, a fire extinguisher 1pc 2 lbs. minimum HFC 236fa Type, a sound producing device, first aid kit, compass, navigation lights, and tool kit.
The PCG would also inspect the boat capacity and loading every time it leaves for island hopping and dolphin-watching or dive and snorkel tours.
With the requirements, however, fly by night boat operators may have the standard boat markings and registration but may lack other requirements and often know the Coast Guard personnel that they can easily slip through, according to Pascua.
Currently, PCG Panglao substation monitors six departure areas that are the traditional departure areas since 2018, which have not yet been officially backed by an ordinance.
These are in Dumaluan-Bohol Beach Club, Alona, Poblacion, Doljo and in Bellevue.
According to Pascua, boats that depart without the necessary Coast Guard clearance can be penalized.
“But considering that Panglao alone has very wide coastlines, any colorum boat operator who does not intend to be cleared can easily do so, but if locals start reporting these operators, it would be easy for the coast guard to trace them,” Pascua said.
Those who depart but are destined for island-hopping in Balicasag are not free from inspection, however, as another round of checks happen in the island to implement the carrying capacity policy of the island as per the tourist islands online booking system.
As tourists step into the island, authorities there would ask for the online booking slip, which coincides with the cleared boats from Panglao.
Those who leave without PCG clearance are then screened and the boatman penalized.
Emphasizing the need for clearance, Pascua said a simple absence of communication equipment when the boat finds an engine trouble in the squall areas near Pamilacan, where the waves can go big, is a matter of life and death. (RAHC/PIA Bohol)
