To avoid any adverse effect on the local economy, the President ordered maritime authorities to speed up the audit of all passenger and cargo vessels operating in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo issued the directives following a meeting with representatives from SLI, other shipping firms, and maritime officials at the Malacañang sa Sugbu, Cebu City to tackle the transport cargo shortage and layoffs of crewmen due to the grounded sea vessels.

"The President wants an early audit result. Of the 14 (Sulpicio) vessels, eight have finished audit. Ngayon me naiwan pa, gusto ng Pangulo pwede ba yung walo kung pumasa, patakbuhin na," Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.

Transportation and Communications Undersecretary Elena Bautista said Marina will check anew the eight Sulpicio cargo vessels today, Thursday, July 24, to determine their compliance with the safety standards and other policies set by the government.

Should they pass the audit inspection, the eight Sulpicio cargo ships will be allowed to ply their routes again, Bautista said.

"Sabi ng Sulpicio, nacorrect na yung deficiency ngayon at bukas pag nakita natuwid na pwedeng palayagin muli. If all deficiencies complied with, they can go to sea without passengers, cargo lang," Bautista, chief of the Task Force MV Princess of the Stars, said.

Bautista said the President wanted to ensure that the shipment of commercial goods would not be unnecessarily hampered by the recent grounding of the SLI fleet.

She noted that the grounding of the SLI ships has caused a vacuum in the cargo shipping industry but some other shipping firms have committed to fill the gap.

Meanwhile, the Board of Marine Inquiry (BMI) yesterday said that it has completed its investigation into the sinking of the MV Princess of the Stars in Romblon last June 21.

BMI Chairman Rear Admiral Ramon C. Liwanag said the results of the investigation will be submitted to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Vice Admiral Wilfredo D. Tamayo for review.

The BMI report will be forwarded to Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro R. Mendoza before it is sent to President Arroyo.