Philippine congressman Teofisto “TG” Guingona III has blasted the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina 7), saying that it had been lax in implementing maritime laws, causing tragedies at sea such as the sinking of the ‘Baleno 9’ and ‘Catalyn B’ last month.

He said that if Marina 7 had been rigorously implementing maritime laws, substandard vessels would not be allowed to set said. Citing reports from the Philippine Coast Guard, Mr Guingona said that there were 69 reported sea accidents in 2009.

 “These accidents are just the latest in a long series of maritime disasters, some of which have not yet been resolved to the satisfaction of all,” he said.

Marina 7 maritime specialist, Mordon Martin, responded by assuring the public that all Cebu-based cargo and passenger vessels were seaworthy and had passed safety inspections. He said that annual vessel inspections determined a vessel’s seaworthiness before its safety certificate was renewed.

Source: Baird Maritime