ILOILO CITY (PNA) – Should vessels and motorboats be allowed to operate or ply their routes in a locality placed under Public Storm Signal No. 1?

This has been the subject of debate recently and will be the main subject of a public hearing that will be conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on November 13 here. Said hearing shall consult Ilonggos on the contents of a Memorandum Circular entitled “Interim Guidelines on Movement of Vessels and Motorboats

Engaged in Short Distance Voyages in Special Areas.”

Coast Guard District Commander Commodore William M. Melad said the proposed Memorandum Circular is intended to prescribe policies and procedures in the movement of vessels and motorboats during fair weather condition in the locality despite being declared to be under Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Melad added that the said circular shall apply to vessels and motorboats of 1,000 gross tons and below engaged in short distance voyages operating in special areas within the territorial jurisdiction of the Republic of the Philippines.

The consultation activity will be held at 9 a.m. at the Conference Room of the Coast Guard Western Visayas District headquarters in Barangay Obrero here.

The Philippine Coast Guard, whose main role involves maritime laws enforcement and border control, is the oldest armed service of the country, tracing its roots to 1901, or three years after the Americans first came to the country.

On October 17 of that year, the Insular Government, through the Philippine Commission, enacted a law creating the Bureau of Coast Guard and Transportation. The Captain of the Port was designated as the Bureau Director.