MANILA, Philippines – Nais ni Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. na mag-imbestiga ang House of Representatives sa paglubog ng pampasaherong bangka sa Binangonan, Rizla noong Hulyo 27 na ikinasawi ng 27 katao.
Sa pahayag nitong Sabado, Agosto 5, sinabi ni Barzaga na naghain na siya ng House Resolution 1159 na humihikayat sa nararapat na komite upang siyasatin ang kapabayaan sa bahagi ng
Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) lalo pa’t, “the boat obviously sank because of the perennial problem of overloading.”
“Considering the alarming PCG’s performance during the Egay boat disaster, as well as other incidents, there is a need to examine, assess, and improve the PCG if it is fulfilling its mandate to the promotion of safety of life and property at sea under the Philippine Coast Guard Law and Presidential Decree Nos. 600, 601, 602, and 970,” sinabi pa ng mambabatas.
Nauna nang nanawagan ng imbestigasyon ang ilang senador sa naturang pangyayari ngunit hanggang ngayon ay wala pang naisasaayos na Senate hearing.
Tinanggal na ng PCG ang dalawang tauhan nito kaugnay ng insidente, na nangyari mismo sa kaparehong araw lamang na umalis ng Philippine Area of Responsibility ang Super Typhoon Egay.
Maliban sa aksidente sa bangka, patitingnan din ni Barzaga sa congressional probe ang naging pagtugon ng PCG sa bagyong Egay, maging ang National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), Department of the Interior and Local Government, Binangonan government, at iba pang related agencies.
Sinabi ng mambabatas na dapat alamin ng Kongreso ang “much-needed reforms in the prevention and response to natural disasters that have negative impacts to millions of Filipinos.”
“It is imperative that there should also be a multi-agency investigation, including the NDRRMC, to assess and work out solutions to the Philippines’ preparedness and response to natural disasters such as storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions that regularly beset the country,” sinabi pa niya. RNT/JGC
