The Iloilo Strait tragedy has affected the tourism industry of Guimaras, an island province that is known for its sweet mangoes and beautiful beaches.
Liberty Ferrer, provincial tourism officer, said the sea mishap that killed 31 passengers has negative effects on tourism and other major industries of the province.
Last Aug. 3, three passenger pumpboats capsized after being hit by strong winds and huge waves while traversing Iloilo Strait.
The tragic event caused the suspension of pumpboat operations for almost two weeks.
Ferrer said accomodation establishments in the province have been greatly affected by the tragedy.
“Halos tanan nagcancel sang ila trips after sang natabo,” she disclosed.
Stores, especially those selling mangoes, and souvenier items, have also been feeling the impact of the tragedy.
“Kay bangod wala kita bisita nga nagatabok, ang mga gabaligya sang produkto ta diri sa Guimaras pati ang souvenier items apektado man,”Ferrer said.
Meanwhile, Guimaras Representative Lucille Nava thanked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for lifting the suspension on pumpboat operations.
The wooden hull boats were again allowed to ferry passengers from Guimaras to Iloilo, vice versa on Aug. 13, subject to several conditions set by MARINA.
“We too, are deeply appreciative of the lifting of the ban. Yet it cannot be denied that more help is still necessary and very crucial for our island province to return to normalcy,” Nava said in her privilege speech during the first regular session of the 18th Congress at the Batasan Pambansa.
She urged the DOTr to help them increase the number of vessels plying the Iloilo-Guimaras-Iloilo route.
“The daily commuters are more or less 18 thousand.Presently the vessels deployed can accommodate approximately six thousand,” Nava noted.
Iloilo, she stressed, “is the major trading partner of Guimaras.”
“It is the primary option for tertiary education and for tertiary health care and it continuously provides employment opportunities to Guimarasnons,” Nava said.
“Construction materials, petroleum products and almost all other goods pass by the City of Iloilo before it reaches Guimaras,” she added.
Nava also appealed to DOTr to “extend the moratorium on the Certificate of Public Convenience for wooden-hulled motorbancas plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route and vice versa, subject to the newly adopted restrictions for a reasonable period of time to finally comply with MARINA Circular No. 2016-02, or the Revised Rules on the Phase Out of Wooden Hulled Ships Carrying Passengers in Domestic Shipping.”IMT
