Rey Anthony H. Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol May 18 (PIA) --Taking the recent sea mishap
involving a Tubigon-heading fastcraft and a cargo ship, Coast Guard is set to
meet in Tagbilaran next week to engage stakeholders on a discussion
on the shipping sector's safety and development in Bohol.
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Bohol chief Lieutenant Commander
Benjie Quinisio said there might be a need to set up and rehabilitate the
marine navigational aids in Bohol.
The PCG plans to gather shipping company representatives, chamber
members, shippers, port users and interested individuals to a meeting at a
venue that would seen be announced.
Quinisio immediately rolled his sleeves and rounded all other
coast guard stations and assets all over Bohol to check on their situations.
We found out that a lot of beacon lights and lighthouses in Bohol
are not operational, Quinisio said.
In the narrow Tagbilaran City channel for example, there are
supposed to be eight lighthouses and beacons, only six are visible.
He also pointed out that there are even areas where the harbor pilot or
entering ships need to spot the unlighted beacons if only to be assured of
a safe passage.
The least we would want in Tagbilaran is for a transiting ships to
run aground in the shallows in the absence of lights, Quisinio aired his
apprehensions.
Ships running aground within the vicinity of the channel may
consequently block the passage of supply boats, disrupting the flow of trade
and commerce in the city and in nearby areas in Bohol, he said.
Quisinio also said his worst fear is for ships to collide
at midsea due to the absence of navigational reference especially at
night time.
Tagbilaran Coast Guard Station sources confirmed that several of
lighthouses and beacons all over Bohol are not anymore functioning.
Tagbilaran Coast Guard Station also supervises substations in
Panglao, Jagna, Ubay, Talibon, Tubigon.
The islets and islands comprising the Danajon Reef in northeastern
Bohol has been a critical marine highway for ships to nearby Samar and Leyte as
well as for fishermen and the absence of working navigational guides can
make the night passage in these areas very tricky, Quisinio explained.
Bohol has 71 islands and islets, critical shallow reefs and
dangerous currents passing near the mainland. The presence of navigational
aids, like functioning lighthouses are a great help to night navigation passage
in Bohol, Quisinio stated. (mbcn/rahc/PIA7-Bohol)
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http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1101431659538/pcg-to-map-out-navigational-safety-to-meet-stakeholders#sthash.FqVDVVMM.dpuf