Catanduanes Rep. Sarmiento to file bill protecting ferry passengers

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar V. Sarmiento said he will file a bill which will protect the rights of the passengers of ships or ferry.

The solon said that will file the measure because of the clamor of the people, especially during the onslaught of Tropical Depression Agaton where several ship passengers were left stranded in ports for several days.

“Dahil sa clamor na nakarating sa akin through our partners in the media, karapat-dapat na po na bigyan pansin ng gobyerno ang mga nakakaawa nating mga stranded na pasahero na tumataas ang bilang tuwing may bagyo,” Sarmiento said during an interview with Failon Ngayon.

Sarmiento is chairman of the House of Representatives committee on transportation.

The congressman said that it is high time to have a standard protocol to assist stranded passengers during calamities.

He said that in his region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development automatically provides relief efforts for stranded passengers in ports.

Sarmiento said that the same protocol should be observed by other areas during calamities.

“Kapag may inaasahang bagyo, and DSWD ng Region 5 po sa amin, ay nagprepreposition na po ng relief goods sa mga ports para sa maii-stranded na pasahero. It must be reviewed if this is also the protocol in other areas.”