MANILA, Philippines ? Already in short supply, the government is also not taking care of its rubber boats enough, one of its biggest suppliers said on Wednesday.

Several government agencies have reportedly put aside their rubber boats, unmindful of maintenance and proper storage, said Senen Arabaca, president of Geneve S.A. Philippines Inc.

Geneve S.A. is the exclusive distributor of Zodiac professional and military boats. Geneve S.A. is one of the four suppliers of rubber boats to government agencies.

Arabaca told the weekly Fernandina Forum at Club Filipino that rubber boats, especially military boats should be regularly maintained with a check up of at least once every three months.

The basic equipment in rubber boat consists of a rope, life buoy, and life vests.

Deflated rubber boats should also be inflated at least once a month to check for holes, he said. But in some government agencies, which he refused to name, rubber boats were simply put aside in one corner, making them vulnerable to termite infestation.

?They should know how to maintain the boats properly because these are important in saving lives,? Arabaca said.

He added that the government is in short supply of rubber boats. He has supplied some 500 rubber boats across the country, and the last purchase made by the government to their company was way back in 2000.

But Arabaca also revealed that the aftermath of tropical depression ?Ondoy? have resulted to some government agencies purchasing boats from Geneve S.A.

In fact, a government agency is set to purchase 75 military boats amounting to P136 million, but Arabaca refused to disclose the agency pending the public bidding.

Private individuals have also purchased boats after ?Ondoy,? resulting to a shortage of rubber boats.
The next shipment from France, Arabaca said, could take several weeks and even months.