The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Dumaguete City, the provincial capital of Negros Oriental, has started its numbering system of motor bancas (mbca’s) in its area of coverage to include Siquijor province.
Lt. Junior Grade Donna Liza Ramacho, the Coast Guard-Dumaguete Station Commander, disclosed Wednesday that so far, her office has already registered under the numbering system 13 motor bancas in Amlan, 11 in Guihulngan, six in Bayawan City, six in Dauin, three in Zamboanguita, and five in nearby Siquijor island.
The safety, security and environmental numbering system for all sea crafts is in line With the Department of Transportation’s Memorandum Circular No. 2017001, Ramacho said.
The numbering system will not only help the Coast Guard and other authorities to identify the motor bancas as legitimate, but will also provide the owners/fishermen protection for being officially registered with government, she explained.
Ramacho clarified that this is a free service where the Coast Guard will be painting the code and assigned number on the starboard and port sides of each motor banca.
The prefix “Neg Or” (for Negros Oriental) will be painted on the sides of motor banca followed by its assigned number.
However, this covers only those that are registered with the municipal or local government units.
Lt. Junior Grade Ramacho enjoined the fisherfolk with motor bancas having gross tonnage of less than 3.5 tons to register first and for those that are already registered, to sign up for the numbering system.
The Coast Guard commander said her office has already lined up visits to the different areas for this although fishermen’s associations have helped to make things easier by submitting a list of their members to her office instead. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)