Boat trips suspension hurts Guimaras economy

By: Jennifer P. Rendon 

APART from claiming numerous lives, the Iloilo Strait appeared to have more far reaching effects, especially on the province of Guimaras.

Vice Governor John Edward Gando of Guimaras said their economy is also hurting because movement of goods in and out of the province is constrained.

Since late Saturday afternoon, passenger pump boats were not allowed to sail to and from Guimaras and Iloilo.

A lone roll on-roll off (RORO) vessel of FF Cruz Shipping Corporation ferries passenger going in and out of the province.

But on Aug 7, 2019, maritime authorities allowed two other RORO vessels to augment the transport service in the province.

Gando earlier said they also have to build up the image of Guimaras as far as tourism is concerned.

But that would take a backseat for now as the Guimaras provincial government is addressing immediate concerns like the transportation of Guimaras residents, especially students and workers who go to Iloilo City daily.

They also have to respond to the needs of hundreds of boat crew and porters who lost their livelihood because of the mishaps.

Gando said more or less 500 pump boat crew members – both in Buenavista and Jordan wharfs – and scores of porters are jobless for several days with the suspension of boat trips.

“If this reaches a week, we might be compelled to declare the province under the state of calamity,” he said.

Once a state of calamity is declared, Gando said they could mobilize quick response to support and extend help to the crew.

The declaration, he said, would be anchored on the grounds of “disruption of economic activities.”

Under the guidelines, the disruption should go on for at least one week.

The municipality of Jordan and Buenavista have reportedly extended helped to affected workers.

Gando said the provincial government will also extend help to affected workers.

 

DSWD ASSISTANCE

On Wednesday, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 through the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) distributed 504 family food packs to all the crew members stranded in Iloilo and Guimaras.

These crew members are from four pump boat associations: the Jordan Motor Banca Cooperative (JMBC), the Buenavista Motorbanca Owners’ Association (BAMOSA), the Association of Buenavista Ferry Service Provider (ABFSP), and the Buenavista Development Cooperative.

In a press conference, DSWD-6 assistant regional director for administration Evangeline Felecio assured that all affected crew will be given family food packs good for several days.

Wendell Montalbo, 18, a boat crew member from Barangay Sto. Rosario, Buenavista, Guimaras, said the cancellations affected his daily income.

“We’re very thankful for the food assistance by the DSWD,” he said.

Meanwhile, DSWD-6 regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre said the agency will be releasing burial assistance amounting to P20,000 per casualty.

As of this writing, the RDRRMC has recorded 31 casualties out of 83 passengers and 12 crew onboard the three capsized bancas.

 

LIVELIHOOD AID 

On top of providing the immediate needs of affected workers, the DSWD said it will give livelihood aid to affected crew members of the Iloilo-Guimaras sea tragedy.

The DSWD said it will identify their needs and assist them immediately aside from the current assistance to survivors and bereaved families of the casualties.

May Rago-Castillo of DSWD-6 said the agency has instructed the Iloilo City Quick Response Team (QRT) and the province of Guimaras to assess the needs of the affected sea crew.