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THE
government is looking into the possibility of using the
available assets of Sulpicio Lines in covering the
expenses in the refloating and other required works out
of its overturned ferry MV Princess of the Stars.
This was
disclosed on Tuesday by Transportation Undersecretary
Elena Bautista at the hearing of the House Committee on
Transportation, which is investigating the sinking of
the country’s biggest passenger ferry.
Bautista
said she discussed the idea of tapping the assets of
Sulpicio in the salvaging operations with officials of
the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance,
hours before she attended the hearing.
She told
the committee, headed by Lakas Rep. Monico Puentevella
of Bacolod, that transportation and other officials
thought of using the shipping company’s assets and
properties as guarantee payment in not only refloating
the ship, but in shouldering the other costs including
compensating the families of the victims.
The MV
Princess of the Stars overturned off Sibuyan Island in
Romblon on June 21 with more than 800 people onboard
after it was battered by Typhoon Frank-induced waves.
Only
more than 30 people survived. The bodies of fatalities
were washed to as far as Quezon, Masbate, Sorsogon and
Camarines Sur days later. Hundreds more are still
trapped inside the ferry.
Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr.
of Cavite said Sulpicio has no money to pay the victims’
kin and for the salvaging of the ship by Titan Salvage
Corp.
He told
the committee that he had documents from the Securities
and Exchange Commission proving the ship owner had been
losing money during the past four years.
Barzaga
brought with him members of three claimant families who
said they have been promised P200,000 each in assistance
if they sign a quit claim with Sulpicio.
Independent Rep. Roilo Golez of Parañaque said the
government should not only penalize Sulpicio, but also
hold Del Monte Philippines responsible for its cargo of
10 tons of endosulfan in the vessel.
Golez
said the justice department should also impose a lien on
Del Monte over its still-unrecovered pesticide.
But a
representative of Del Monte said the company was not
responsible for the loading of its cargo in the sunken
vessel because the shipment was identified as toxic.
The
company also assured that the possibility of leakage is
almost zero as the cargo was well wrapped.
Bautista
hinted that Sulpicio may have violated the law when it
loaded the endosulfan on MV Princess of the Stars.
She said
that under maritime regulations, no toxic cargo can be
loaded in a ship carrying more than 25 passengers.
Her
statement elicited remarks from lawmakers who said that
Sulpicio may have been the exception.
The
Coast Guard maintained it has no fault over the sinking
of the vessel and again passed the buck on the captain
of the ship, who is still missing.
“We
simply did not prevent it from departing. The ship
captain has the last say on the matter of whether to
sail or not,” a Coast Guard representative said.
The
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), meanwhile, denied
rumors that it has already suspended the franchise of
Sulpicio Lines Inc. to operate its vessels.
Marina
Deputy Administrator Primo Rivera told the
BusinessMirror that Sulpicio’s certificate of public
convenience, or franchise, has not been canceled.
Rivera
said that the suspension of operation of Sulpicio’s
roll-on, roll-off passenger ferries does not mean that
its franchise has been canceled or suspended.
Sulpicio’s eight cargo vessels are still in operation as
grounding them can cause a major disturbance in the
movement of cargo movement. The shipping lines corners
at least a fifth of the cargo-shipping market.
“If he
[Marina Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr.] orders me to do
so, then I will suspend it. But there’s no cancellation
yet,” he said.
He added
that a franchise is a privilege, not a right, and as
such can be revoked anytime.
Rumors
are rife on the status of the embattled shipping company
after the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) finished
deliberations last week. The board, however, has yet to
release its findings and recommendations, which may lead
to lawsuits.
On
Tuesday rumors spread in the shipping industry that
Marina has already canceled Sulpicio’s franchise.
On
Monday Marina has also disowned reports that the agency
has cleared the captain of MV Princes of the Stars of
any liability and blamed Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration for
its inadequate weather bulletin on Typhoon Frank.
“Marina’s role would be to consider the recommendations
of the BMI as they relate to its mandate as the maritime
administration and franchising authority. These refer to
the safety and seaworthiness of the vessels and where
these are allowed to operate in the domestic trade,” the
agency said in a statement.
As a
result of the Princess tragedy, which may have killed
most of the 800 people onboard when it sunk off Sibuyan
Island in Romblon on June 21, the government is setting
up a new policy that will require shipping lines to have
a compulsory cargo insurance like the tanker operators.
Bautista
told reporters that they are already arranging a public
hearing on the issue and a dialogue with ship owners.
Almost
all of the oil tankers operating in the local trade are
members of the Protection and Indemnity Club, which will
answer to all the damage in case of a sea accident. They
are also covered by the International Oil Pollution
Fund. (With VG Cabuag) |
