Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign in Western Visayas launched in Guimaras

The Maritime Industry Authority Regional Office VI (MRO6) led by its Regional Director Jeffrey A. Bangsa successfully kicked-off the Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign Caravan in Western Visayas during its nationwide simultaneous launching today, 15 October 2024 at Buenavista, Guimaras. 

Attended by two hundred seventy (270) stakeholders coming from representatives from various sectors of the maritime industry in Western Visayas which includes the riding public, the fisherfolks and shipowners/operators together with its partner government agencies from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine Navy (PN), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine National Police Maritime Group (PNP-MG), Department of Tourism (DOT), National Museum of the Philippines Iloilo and the Local Government of the Province of Guimaras and the Municipality of Buenavista, the MRO6 started its activities with a boat caravan from Parola Wharf, Iloilo City to MacArthur Wharf, Buenavista, Guimaras. 

Subsequently, Director Bangsa alongside Mayor Samuel T. Gumarin of the Municipality of Buenavista, Guimaras and representatives from the PPA and the PCG, ceremoniously posted the Information and Education Campaign (IEC) posters in MacArthur Wharf in Buenavista to inform the public, especially sea vessel passengers, about safety reminders and their rights as passengers. 

To intensify the agency’s maritime safety and marine plastic litter campaign, a program followed at the Buenavista Municipal Gym. The event was graced by no less than the Guimaras Provincial Governor, Hon. JC Rahman A. Nava, M.D. as the Guest of Honor, alongside MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations, Engr. Nannette Z. Villamor-Dinopol, representing the MARINA Administrator and Engr. Ronald P. Bandalaria of the MARINA Enforcement Service. The program emphasized the importance of the shared responsibility of all maritime sectors in promoting the maritime safety as a key priority in Western Visayas. 

Additionally, as a highlight of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Mayor Gumarin and Director Bangsa as a symbol of collaboration between the two government agencies in spreading awareness about sea travel safety and compliance with the MARINA regulations. 

The caravan concluded through the recitation and signing of “Panata Para Sa Kaligtasan”, as a testament of a whole of nation commitment to realize the goal of the Maritime Safety Culture Awareness Campaign for a “Ligtas Byaheng Dagat”.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *