By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) ordered the indefinite suspension of motor banca operations between Iloilo City and Guimaras as they conduct further investigations into the three boats that capsized over the weekend in the Iloilo Strait. During the suspension, Marina will assess the safety conditions of motor bancas plying the Iloilo-Guimaras route.
In the meantime, Marina has detailed two roll-on/roll-off vessels to serve the route while the investigation is being conducted.
In a social media post by the agency, they mentioned convening the Maritime Crisis Management Committee last Monday and having sent a team of investigators to Iloilo City. The said team is tasked with helping local officials in the search for the remaining missing passengers.
The Marina-Region VI office has also set up a help desk as a means of better coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), and local government units.
Based on initial investigations carried out by PCG, the three boats—M/B Chi-chi, M/B Keziah, and M/B Jenny Vince—may have encountered a weather phenomenon known as a squall. According to weather forecasters, a squall refers to a sudden wind-speed increase of eight meters per second, or 18 miles per hour or more, and a sudden increase in the volume of rainfall for more than one minute or longer. The PCG in Iloilo also insists sea and weather conditions at the time of the boats’ departures were fine.
Authorities are also looking at the structure of the three boats as another factor as to why they capsized.
The number of casualties in the sea mishap has since climbed to 31 as of yesterday after three more bodies were recovered by PCG off the coast of Dumangas.
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to arrive in Iloilo City today to visit survivors and the families of those who perished in the tragedy./DGB, WDJ

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