‘We’re right, after all!’ Ferries Part of Hi-way, Says 68-Year-Old Law

Thanks to a follower of this Facebook page, Francis Garcia of Davao City, it is now established that ferries are considered part of a highway.

Garcia cited Republic Act 197 enacted in 1953 in supporting my position that the messy ferry service which connects the Pan-Philippine Highway, also known ad Maharlika Highway and AH 26, in two channels should be taken over by government because it is considered part of the highway.

There are two ferry connections along AH 26, Lipata, Surigao del Norte to Liloan, Southern Leyte and Allen, Northern Samar to Matnig, Sorsogon.

At present, ferry services are operated by private shipping companies who have been the subject of complaints from truckers and motorists who had to wait for days before they could be loaded in the few vessels.

I remember many years ago, there were two Ferry Boats whivh served the routes, Maharlika 1 and 2.

It is not known how the ferry services were turned over to private companies which had monopolized the routes.

Currently, hundreds of trucks loaded with agricultural products bound for Metro Manila and industrial and commercial items for Visayas and Mindanao are stranded in the two channel crossings.

Ang aking mungkahi dyan ay i-take over ng gobyerno ang ferry services at gawing libre dahil bahagi ito ng highway.

Kapag nagawa ito, magiging madali ang pagbyahe ng kargamento at makakatulong ito sa mga producers at consumers.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#KungGustoMaramingParaan!

(File photos of Maharlika Ferries were downloaded from public websites while captured images of RA 197 were provided by Francis Garcia.)