The Iloilo City Regional Trial Court-Branch 33 halted implementation of the August 13 memorandum ordering the removal, or “rolling-up,” of motor banca tarpaulins.
The order, dated November 4, 2019 and signed by Judge Ma. Therese N. Enriquez-Gaspar, denied the urgent motion for inhibition filed by the Maritime Industry Authority and Philippine Coast Guard for lack of merit.
“It is not highly improbable that when the motor banca leaves port the weather is fine and sunny but, in the middle of the trip, rain may suddenly pour,” the order noted. “It does not require much to understand that exposing passengers to this kind of condition will definitely imperil their health and consequently cause undue financial burden on them if and when they are compelled to seek medical treatment.”
The decision noted, for a 15-minute trip between Iloilo and Guimaras, without tarpaulins, passengers would potentially be exposed to extreme heat or inclement weather.
Atty. Vicente De Asis, a Guimaras resident, earlier filed the injunction./WDJ