Press Release - Tulfo warns PCG, MIAA to ensure public safety amid typhoon Enteng

Amid the Senate work suspension due to typhoon Enteng on Monday Sept. 2, Sen. Idol Raffy Tulfo coordinated with various government agencies under his Senate Public Services Committee through a zoom meeting.

Sen. Idol immediately warned the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to ensure strict monitoring and inspection of all sea vessels.

First off, Sen. Tulfo stressed that no maritime vessels should be allowed to sail due to the current bad weather. However, he added that those who would be permitted to sail because their route was not affected by typhoon Enteng must be seaworthy, not overloaded and have sufficient life vests for the onboard passengers and crew.

It can be recalled that in the past, there were a lot of reports about tragedies at sea caused by bad weather, wherein a sea craft was able to sail but sank and led to many deaths due to overloading and lack of lifevests. Later, it was found out that this was caused by the negligence of the PCG.

Meanwhile, Sen. Idol was happy by the information gathered from Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) Spokesperson Eunice Samonte who told him that even though more than 4,000 passengers are currently stranded at the piers, the PPA have prepared enough free snacks, drinks, and proper accommodation for them.

But regardless, Sen. Raffy still warned Samonte that if the information she provided to him was not true, then someone will be held accountable.

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Meanwhile, the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) management earned the ire of Sen. Idol after he received information that there were tubs and trays scattered in NAIA terminals on Sept. 2 to catch rainwater from the roof with holes.

MIAA Spokesperson Atty Chris Bendijo, for his part, immediately acted on said concern and personally went around NAIA terminals to inspect the leaking roofs. Bendijo promised to Sen. Tulfo that he would urgently find a way to prevent the same problem from happening again.

Still, Sen. Idol stressed that if it happens again, many MIAA personnel will be punished.

Furthermore, Sen. Tulfo ordered. Atty. Bendijo to ensure that the airway passenger bill of rights of stranded passengers in NAIA terminals is followed, including the availability