Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya said on Tuesday that the decision of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to revoke Sulpicio Lines Inc.’s authority to ferry passengers is a “hard but fair decision.”
“It just shows that passenger safety is very important for government. We are willing to make a hard but fair decision. We’re very much willing to support the shipping industry but not the expense of passenger safety,” he said in a news briefing.
The certificate of public convenience (CPC) of Sulpicio Lines, now called Span Asia Carrier, was revoked, seven years after MV Princess of the Stars sank off the waters of Romblon.
“So far, no shortage has come up. It’s a deregulated environment, hopefully the operators could fill in the demand, franchise is not even difficult to get. Hopefully, new players [could be able to] see an opportunity,” Abaya said.
The decision of Marina means that operations of Span Asia will be limited to only “cargo operation.”
The MV Princess of the Stars sailed from Manila at 8 a.m. on June 20, 2008, bound for Cebu City but sank off Sibuyan Island, Romblon, on June 22 after being battered by strong winds and big waves brought about by Frank.
The fatal incident took the lives of 851 passengers and crew members of the ship. Only 32 survived.
The Span Asia Carrier was also slapped with a mere fine of P800 for carrying endosulfan, a corrosive substance, without a special permit.
However, Marina dismissed the complaint against the officials and crewmembers of MV Princess of the Stars for “lack of evidence.”