DOUBLE WHAMMY: COVID-19 stalls Guimaras’ recovery from sea mishap

It has been a year since the horrifying Iloilo Strait tragedy killed 31 passengers on board the three motor bancas, MB Chi-Chi, MB Keziah, and MB Jenny Vince.

But for the island province of Guimaras, recovery is almost out of reach with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic shutting down all possible chances of rebounding.

On August 3, 2019, two motorized boats, MB Chi-Chi and MB Keziah capsized due to strong winds while heading to Parola Wharf in Iloilo City from Jordan, Guimaras.

Shortly after the incident, another pump boat, MB Jenny Vince from San Buenavista, Guimaras bound for Iloilo also capsized at around 3:30 p.m. due to strong winds and rain.

The three boats were carrying 83 passengers and 13 crew. Only 52 passengers and 13 crew members survived.

All 31 passengers onboard MB Chi-Chi and MB Jenny Vince perished. The remains of some victims were retrieved four days after the gruelling search and rescue of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the Navy, and volunteer groups.

The incident prompted the suspension of motor banca operations for more than a week – taking toll on thousands of passengers and boat crewmembers.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) lifted the suspension after a week and allowed the motor bancas plying the Iloilo to Jordan and Buenavista, Guimaras line to resume operations but under strict protocols such as limiting the number of passengers and travel time and changes in the designs of the boats, especially the tarp covering.

The protocols resulted in erratic boat trips as bad weather forced frequent suspension of boat trips, thus hurting the tourism industry in Guimaras.

Vice Governor Atty. John Edward Gando admitted that the economy of Guimaras is hardly recovering from the incident.

Supposedly, the province is set to bounce back from the tragedy with the local government plunking in huge investments in tourism and entertainment activities to draw more visitors and tourists.

“Hopefully, tani makabawi-bawi kami this year with the Manggahan Festival this May that is why daku ang amon investments to come up with entertainment, activities sa Manggahan but with this pandemic, it’s like a double whammy gid, sunod sunod gid,” Gando said in a phone interview on Sunday.

Manggahan Festival was supposedly set to be staged in May this year, but restrictions and lockdowns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the organizers and the provincial government to shelve all the festivity.

Since the tragedy followed by the COVID-19 pandemic, boat trips to and from Guimaras have never been the same.

“Dako-dako ang nabag-o. Subong budlay na ang pagsakay sa pumpboat. Half na lang sang tarapal ang maopen, so ang init kag ulan mabatyagan mo gid,” according to Fr. Andy Mark Loma parish priest of St. Teresa in Jordan, Guimaras said.

According to Gando, operations of motorbanca in Guimaras are still shackled by the restrictions imposed a year ago.

Motorbanca operators are also hastening the fabrication of modernized passenger vessels but with the COVID-19 pandemic, their works were also affected.

For Gando and Loma, the Iloilo Strait tragedy highlighted the need to improve and upgrade the transportation system in Guimaras.

“Kinahanglan i-improve gid ang system sa pagbiyahe, indi lang sang mga operators but ang mga passengers man mismo,” Loma said.

The two also re-echoed the call for the national agencies, particularly the PCG, to improve their logistics, response, and manpower.

“The national government also needs to reassess the logistics of the PCG sa akon panan-awan dako pa ang i-improve sang PCG to save and secure the lives,”

“They need to improve their manpower indi lang ang equipment para malikawan na ang mga amo sadto nga trahedya. Mas may confidence ang mga tawo kon dasig and efficient man ila pagresponse,” Loma added.

Amid the challenges of the tragedy and the COVID-19 pandemic, Gando and Loma are confident that Guimarasnons are resilient enough to withstand the hurdles.

“Isa sa mga characteristics sang Guimarasnons may pagkaresilient, makahibalo mag-survive sa pagpanghangkat sa panahon, amo na siguro ang nangin kinalain namon,” Loma said.

“Mapadayon lang kag malampuwasan gid naton ini. Ang natabo nga trahedya tani mabukas sang isa ka dalan, nga mafully modernize na naton ang salakyan dira. Ginapasalig naton ang aton pumuluyo and bisita, nga ang mga opsiyales ginaubra ang tanan para makabangon ang probinsya,” Gando added. (ERS)