SULU – Governor Sakur Tan has warned fixers at the Port of Jolo following complaints from ferry passengers that unscrupulous people have been selling tickets way beyond their nominal value.
Tan also warned shipping lines not to sell tickets
to fixers. The same problem is rampant in Zamboanga City where tickets with
fictitious names of passengers are openly sold by fixers at a higher price.
It was unknown how fixers managed to purchase
tickets in bulk since shipping lines require a valid government identification
card from passengers.
A provincial government photo shows Gov. Sakur Tan meeting with with Ric Lester Valencia, the Port Manager of Montenegro Shipping Lines in Zamboanga City.
The governor also met recently with Ric Lester Valencia, the Port Manager of Montenegro Shipping Lines in Zamboanga City, to personally address, assess and finally put an end to the concerns of the passengers travelling from Zamboanga to Jolo as well as Jolo to Zamboanga.
Among the concerns and issues discussed were the
proliferation of fixers, the sanitary and cleanliness of vessels and other
public transportation concerns that had reached Tan.
During the meeting, it was agreed that the
allowable passengers should only be equal to the bed capacity of the vessels to
avoid overloading and that shipping lines should regularly and thoroughly
inspect their vessels to improve cleanliness.
Valencia said they are committed to the safety of
the passengers and will fully adhere to the actions that will be taken to fully
resolve the public concerns. He assured Tan that they will also do an internal
assessment to further improve their services and urged the travelling public to
directly inform them of any irregularities so that they can take immediate
action.
The governor said he will also meet with other
stakeholders, including the security forces deployed at the Port of Jolo, and
Brigadier General Neil Alinsangan, regional director of the police in Zamboanga
Peninsula, to help in addressing the concerns.
Tan said he will personally monitor the development
of the interventions that will be put in place and told shipping lines plying
to Sulu to adhere to take measures in addressing the problems raised by
passengers.
He previously met with the Regional Ports
Management Authority – Jolo Port Manager Jude Jaafar and his staff, and
discussed many concerns relayed to him by the business community and travellers
regarding the handling of cargo and the inconveniences of passengers.
Traders and boat passengers have complained to Tan
regarding many issues, including the presence of fixers at the Port of Jolo,
and the operation of receiving, conveying, and loading or unloading merchandise
on the pier. (Mindanao Examiner)
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