BATANGAS CITY, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) together with Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) launched on Thursday (April 11) a public awareness campaign to educate sea passengers of their rights in case of untoward incidents during trips.
Inconveniences can come in different circumstances such as delays, cancellations or if the trip has been cut at mid port.
“Kailangan talaga ng public awareness para they have to be informed of their rights, anim iyon, para malaman nila so mayroon din tayong rights yung mga riding public natin sa barko din, (Public awareness is needed so they may be informed of their rights, there are six of them, for the riding public of sea vessels may also know),” Marina’s OIC Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. said during the launching of the campaign at Port of Batangas.
Problems that passengers may encounter include trip cancellation, overbooking, wrong booking or if the passenger has been stranded for at least 24 hours.
According to MARINA, sea passengers should be aware of the following rights:
- Right to information – Passengers have to right to know the reason why their trip has been cancelled and the sailing schedule before the original schedule.
- Right to refund – Passengers may opt to refund the corresponding amount in full of the cancelled ticket.
- Right to revalidation of ticket – This is an option when the passenger decides not to make a refund. In this case, the passenger may ask to board the nearest sailing schedule of similar route as his original ticket.
- Right to amenities – Shipping operators should also provide the passengers with free accommodation, food, access to communication facilities or gadgets, and even medical services when necessary.
- Right to Compensation – If the shipping operator cannot provide for accommodation and food, then the passengers may demand for compensation equivalent to three days-worth of lodging expenses.
- Right to comparable transport to intended destination – If the trip departed on schedule but was cut at mid port and was not able to reach the final destination, passengers may demand for an alternative transportation to his intended destination.
Shipping operators may announce the cancellation four hours before the intended departure.
In this case, the operator has no obligation to provide amenities to the affected passengers, therefore passengers are advised to monitor and be aware of the advisories from the shipping lines and all concerned agencies.
DOTr clarified, however, that these rights can only be availed if the reason for cancellation is on the shipping operator or of natural causes.
“Hindi ho kasama yung bad weather dito, ang kasama po dito yung mga delays caused by the vessel’s operators, (Bad weather is not included, only problems or delays caused by the vessel’s operators,)” Undersecretary Fernando Juan Perez of the DOTr Maritime Division said.
For complaints, Marina encourages passengers to report shipping operators who will violate their rights to Marina help desks stationed in sea ports or call Marina Enforcement Service at 632 521 8045 or 0995 400 7336. – Marje Pelayo
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