Iloilo, Boracay boatmen seek exemption from upgrading their vessel

Boat organizations from Iloilo and Boracay have sought exemption from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) policy to convert their wooden boats to fiber glass.

Godofredo Sadiasa, representing the Caticlan-Boracay Transport Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CBTMPC), said that he had been consulted by the MARINA officials for a meeting recently.

The MARINA had decided to implement the zero wooden boats policy after a wooden vessel sank in Eastern Visayas recently killing scores of passengers.

Sadiasa said aside from the CBTMPC, boatmen plying Guimaras-Iloilo and vice versa has also sought exemption from the new policy.

"We had sought exemption because we are only transporting the passengers for ten minutes. The zero wooden boat policy should be implemented to those vessels plying longer routes," Sadiasa said.

The CBTMPC is being considered as the richest transport cooperative in the country. Sadiasa said the cooperative had 68 wooden boat with outrigger and three fiber glass boats without outrigger.