Arroyo orders Sulpicio cargo operations resumed

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday ordered the resumption of the cargo operations of the Sulpicio Lines Inc. as its continued suspension might adversely affect the flow of goods in the country. Arroyo tasked Transportation and Communications Secretary Leandro Mendoza to meet with officials of Sulpicio Lines to come up with an arrangement for the resumption of the cargo handling operation of the shipping firm. The directive came a week after vessels of Sulpicio Lines were ordered grounded by the Department of Transportation and Communication. The directive came after the MV Princess of the Stars capsized June 21 off the coast of Sibuyan island in Romblon. Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said with Sulpicio Lines handles about 40 percent of the transporting and deliveries of cargos and other commodities. "If that is not resumed then there is high probability that it will adversely affect cargo carrying from Manila to Cebu, and other places where Sulpicio ships normally travel,"he said. Ermita stressed that it is only the cargo operations, which they hope to resume within the week, that would be resumed and the "passenger" aspects remains suspended. Asked what kind of arrangements are being worked out with Sulpicio Lines, he said it would be a "way by which government will be very much supervising the shipping fleet of Sulpicio Lines that carry cargo for the moment". He also said that there was a proposal to assign safety marshals on all ships after an audit team of the Marina inspects and audits "all shipping lines so they can prevent untoward incidents". "As to the arrangement for effective control, so far the DOTC gave the idea of just assigning safety marshals. If there needs to be security marshals, it was suggested by Secretary Mendoza that there should be auditors," Ermita said. "First they would audit the capability not only of Sulicio Lines but also other shipping companies. And then meanwhile, they will prepare safety marshals to go with the shipping vessels, passengers, moving around inter-island routes," he added. - GMANews.TV