Tolentino enjoins ship owners to uphold rights of passengers

As the exodus from urban centers to the provinces begins in preparation for “undas” and amid Super Typhoon Leon’s threat,  Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino called on sea vessel owners to uphold the rights of passengers, including providing snacks and meals in case of delayed voyages.

MANILA, Philippines – As the exodus from the cities to the provinces begins in preparation for All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day or “Undas,” and the danger posed by Super Typhoon Leon, Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino reminded sea vessel owners and operators to uphold the rights of passengers by, among others, providing snacks and meals in case of delayed voyages.

Tolentino said that under Marina Circular No. 2018-07 of the Maritime industry Authority, which outlines “the rights of passengers and obligations of domestic passengers in cases of canceled, delayed or unfinished/uncompleted voyages,” ship owners and operators are mandated to provide, free of charge, to their passengers the following amenities in case of delayed voyages: snacks or refreshments, or meals during meal time; free access to medicine or first aid, if necessary; and free access to communication facilities or services, if necessary.

Tolentino issued the statement in reaction to reports that personnel of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) would sometimes pool their personal money just to provide meals for passengers stranded in ports when ships are prevented from traveling, sometimes for days, due to inclement weather.

“While this initiative by the PPA employees is laudable, I think all sectors must be reminded that the primary responsibility to provide meals to ship passengers in case of delays falls on the ship owners. That is clearly outlined in Marina Circular No. 2018-07,” Tolentino stressed.

In an interview on the senator’s regular radio program, ‘Usapang Tol,’ Eunice Samonte, PPA spokesperson, shared that indeed, the  agency’s employees sometimes spend their own money for the meals of stranded passengers.

Samonte agreed with Tolentino’s observation that passengers mostly come from the lower income segments of the population, and would often have no means to provide for their own meals and personal needs in case their travel is delayed.

“The amount of money they have  is often just enough for their travel fare. They have no contingency in case of delays,” said the senator.

Tolentino noted that nothing prevents PPA, the local government concerned, and ship owners from making arrangements to ensure the welfare of the passengers, especially when travel is delayed for several days.

Samonte also noted that the PPAm through its general manager Jay Santiago is working with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the prepositioning of ready-to-eat food packs in ports with the coming long weekend as Filipinos observe “undas” amid stormy weather.

“Whether they travel by air, land, or sea, the rights and needs of passengers must be observed by all the agencies and sectors concerned,” Tolentino said.