CAVITE Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. has filed a resolution calling for a congressional investigation into the July 27 capsizing of MB Aya Express in Laguna Lake which left 27 passengers dead and six others missing.
In filing House Resolution No. 1159, Barzaga urged the appropriate House committee to investigate in aid of legislation, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the local government of Binangonan, Rizal, and other related agencies to look into their response to typhoon Egay and determine the “much-needed reforms in the prevention and response to natural disasters that have negative impacts to millions of Filipinos.”
MB Aya Express sank off Brgy. Kalinawan, Binangonan, Rizal, which is part of Laguna Lake, amid the strong winds and rains unleashed by tropical storm Egay.
The senior lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on Natural Resources, said the investigation will focus on finding out if there was negligence on the part of the PCG since the boat obviously sank because of the perennial problem of overloading.
“Survivors also said that the boat carried heavy cargo such as motorcycles and sacks of sand and rice. Clearly, there was overloading considering that the manifest stated that there were only 22 passengers and three crew members. Moreover, even Binangonan, Rizal Mayor Cesar Ynares stated that MB Aya Express was warned not to overload passengers but the warning was ignored. Thus, Mayor Ynares wanted the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the operator of MB Aya Express to be held responsible,” Barzaga said in the resolution.
A survivor of the tragedy, John Christian Dorada, was earlier quoted in news reports that panicked passengers moved to the left side of the vessel which caused the vessel to tilt and capsize while PCG Commandant Adm. Artemio Abu was quoted as saying, “The Coast Guard no longer conducted an inspection. It’s a normal routine because what was indicated in the manifesto was below the authorized number. As such, the boat was allowed to sail.”
Considering the “alarming” performance of the PCG in the MB Aya Express tragedy and in other maritime incidents, Barzaga said “there is a need to examine, assess and improve the PCG if it is fulfilling its mandate to the promotion of safety of life and property at sea under the Philippine Coast Guard Law and Presidential Decree Nos. 600, 601, 602, and 970.”
The senior lawmaker, a stalwart of second largest political party in Congress, the National Unity Party (NUP), said it is “imperative that there should also be a multi-agency investigation, including the NDRRMC, to assess and work out solutions to the Philippines’ preparedness and response to natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that regularly beset the country.”
Typhoon Egay, which was assessed to be a Category 4 tropical storm, not only capsized MB Aya Express but also caused widespread flooding and landslides across the country, affecting 328,000 people based on the report of the NDRRMC.
“Philippines’ TV, radio stations, and cellular networks disseminate storm signals and warnings but this is clearly not enough. According to The Straits Times report, in some parts of rural China, village leaders, and volunteers go door to door to warn villagers about approaching typhoons and the risks of flooding,” HR 1159 said.
The resolution said that while the Philippines, like other countries, evacuates residents from high-risk areas, with the military on standby, it still remains “highly vulnerable to the effects of natural disasters.”
