Intensive Search and Rescue Efforts Underway for Missing Motorbanca
The Philippine Coast Guard, in close coordination with the Philippine Air Force, Naval Forces, local disaster offices, and various partner agencies, is continuing intensive search and rescue operations for the missing motorbanca AMEJARA. The vessel disappeared in the waters off Sarangani and Davao Occidental, prompting a multi-agency response to locate survivors and assess the situation.
Davao City Council Pushes for Comprehensive Maritime Safety Law
In response to this incident and other recent maritime accidents, Davao City Councilor Luna Acosta has filed a resolution urging the 20th Congress to enact a Comprehensive Maritime Safety Law. Acosta, who chairs the Committee on Peace and Public Safety, emphasized the need for stiffer penalties for violations, arguing that current maritime laws enforced by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are fragmented, overlapping, and confusing.
"With the maritime accidents plaguing the country, it is high time to increase administrative fines, impose criminal penalties, and hold offenders accountable for safety violations and permit non-compliance," Acosta stated during the Sanguniang Panlungsod session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. She highlighted that the Philippines, as a seafaring nation, relies heavily on water transport for thousands of passengers and tons of cargo daily, making safety reforms critical.
City Council Discussion on Maritime Safety Issues
The 21st City Council session featured an extensive discussion on maritime safety, with regional officials from MARINA and the Philippine Coast Guard invited to clarify issues. Councilors Ralph Abella and Jopet Baluran initiated the dialogue by proposing that boat operators secure clearances from Marina and the PCG before obtaining city business permits. This move aims to enhance compliance and prevent accidents.
During the session, Councilor Alberto Ungab raised concerns about overlapping functions among government agencies, noting that this setup blurs accountability when maritime incidents occur. "Everybody points to another agency. If you look at the laws, the legislative framework is fragmented. Is anything being done so that overlapping accountability will be eliminated?" Ungab questioned, underscoring the need for clearer regulatory structures.
Agencies Welcome Proposed Stricter Measures
Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao Commander Commodore Philip Soria welcomed the council's proposal, stating that stricter local measures could encourage operators to comply more consistently with safety regulations. He explained that violators often pay fines and resume operations, but in cases of repeated violations, the PCG coordinates with Marina to impose stronger sanctions.
Marina regional director Virvic Paul C. Erese provided details on existing penalties, referencing Circular Memorandum 2024-01, Chapter 11, which outlines sanctions such as license suspension and revocation. He added that officials approved a revised schedule of fines and penalties in Cebu in January 2026, with plans to announce it publicly once finalized. Erese clarified that Marina handles vessel registration, franchise issuance, and compliance monitoring, while the PCG enforces maritime laws at sea.
Soria further elaborated on the PCG's roles, which include conducting inspections, ensuring passenger safety, protecting the marine environment during incidents like oil spills, and performing deputized functions with agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. "We are law enforcers at sea, implementing various national maritime laws," Soria affirmed, noting that the Department of Transportation oversees both MARINA and the PCG, though the latter operates as a uniformed armed service.
Recent Maritime Incidents Highlight Urgency for Reform
Acosta's resolution comes amid a series of recent maritime accidents that have underscored the risks in Philippine waters:
- On January 19, MBCA Amejara capsized in the Davao Gulf after departing Santa Ana Wharf without the required permit and encountering rough seas. Search and rescue operations remain ongoing.
- On January 23, the Singapore-flagged cargo vessel M/V Devon Bay capsized near Scarborough Shoal, approximately 140 nautical miles west of Pangasinan, due to technical problems exacerbated by rough sea conditions.
- Another ferry, MV Trisha Kerstin 3, capsized near Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province.
- On January 25, motorbanca MBCA Vher Marie overturned in Lumban, Laguna, during the Feast of San Sebastian fluvial procession, highlighting risks even in inland waterways despite PCG presence.
Authorities continue to investigate these incidents as lawmakers advocate for stronger maritime safety safeguards nationwide, aiming to prevent future tragedies and improve accountability in the maritime sector.
