Tactical intervention! GOV’T SHOULD TAKE OVER MAHARLIKA FERRY SERVICES

It looks like we celebrated too soon!

Two days after I posted that the backlog of cargo trucks waiting for their turn to be accommodated by ferry boats in Matnog, Sorsogon had been resolved, I received another message that it is now again a mess.

Earlier the quick action taken by Transportation Secretary Art Tugade on the delay of ferry services between Matnog, Sorsogon and Allen, Samar, was hailed by truckers.

But today, I received another appeal from a trucker who said that as of last night the queue of trucks was still seven kilometers long.

This problem needs to be given a sustainable solution because it affects trade and commerce from Luzon to Visayas and Mindanao and back.

The delay and the extra money being shelled out by truckers just to get accommodated in the ferry boats plying the Matnog-Allen route result in higher prices of goods.

The Maharlika Highway, which has two channel crossings – San Bernardino Strait between Sorsogon and Samar and the Surigao Strait between Liloan, Leyte and Lipata, Surigao del Norte, is a very important trading and food supply route.

Instead of relying on the privately-owned ferry boats, some of which are World War II vintage, the Department of Transportation should consider taking over this route and fielding modern fast crafts or ferry boats.

Unlike the system now where the Ferry Boats would only sail when they have enough cargo and passengers, the DOTr engaged vessels should have a regular schedule.

The government-engaged ferry boats should sail whether they are fully loaded or not to facilitate trade and the delivery of food supplies.

Kung regular ang biyahe dyan at lalarga maski hindi puno, hindi mag-aagawan ang mga trucks at siguradong mawawala ang pangongotong.

#GovernanceIsCommonSense!

#LetsGetOutOfOurOffices!

(Photos of two types of vessels plying the Matnog-Allen and Liloan-Lipata Routes were downloaded from public websites. Also attached is an image of the text message reporting that the Matnog problem has remained unresolved.)