By Lily Gut Screenshot of a virtual meeting via Zoom regarding the Binangonan boat accident. (Photo grabbed from Civil Defense Calabarzon.) ...
 |
| Screenshot of a virtual meeting via Zoom regarding the Binangonan boat accident. (Photo grabbed from Civil Defense Calabarzon.) |
BINANGONAN, Rizal - Several government agencies took part in a meeting to discuss the recent boat accident in Binangonan on July 27, 2023.
The recent meeting was led by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Council and aimed to determine the causes of the boat accident and develop measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
According to a DRRM Council spokesperson, the meeting was attended by representatives from the DILG IV-A, DSWD Region IV-A, Philippine Coast Guard- Binangonan, Rizal Police Provincial Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Rizal, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) Binangonan, and local government units.
They discussed the initial findings of the investigation and identified possible lapses in safety protocols that may have contributed to the accident.
The agencies also agreed to conduct joint inspections and enforce stricter regulations to ensure the safety of maritime transportation in Binangonan.
In a statement, DILG Rizal said " the safety of the passengers and crew should always be the top priority in maritime transportation. We will work closely with the concerned agencies to address the identified lapses and implement necessary measures to prevent similar incidents in the future."
Meanwhile, the DSWD IV-A donated P270,000 through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, while the Rizal province government and Binangonan local government contributed P270,000 and P115,000 through the AICS program, respectively.
They also provided assistance, such as psychosocial support, to the families of the deceased and the living, as well as the responders dispatched during the search and recovery operations.
The Binangonan LGU has committed to determining what further assistance the victims' families could need, such as technical assistance and resource augmentation.
The MB Princess Aya sank shortly after leaving the Binangonan port in Rizal on July 27, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council's final report (RDRRMC) IV-A, killing at least 27 people and sparing 43 others. The boat capsized due to powerful gusts and heavy rain.
Only 22 passengers were listed on the passenger manifest, but nearly 70 people—including the captain and two crew members—boarded the motorbanca, which had a 42-passenger capacity, according to the Philippine Coast Guard.
No comments