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THE Maritime Industry Authority in Central Visayas (MARINA 7) yesterday warned shipping companies not to collect fare increase without notifying first the office.
Glenn Cabañez, Marina-7 director, asked passengers to file a complaint before his office if vessels would raise their fare without prior notice.
He said shipping companies should follow procedure in collecting the new rates.
According to Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004 (Republic Act 9295), shipping companies can implement the adjustment seven days after the new rates are published in the newspapers and are posted at the vessels, shipping offices and ports.
“They can not adjust their rates if they will not comply with the procedural requirements as required by Marina under RA 9295,” Cabañez said.
Those firms found violating the law would face sanctions that include suspension of license.
But since Marina does not have enough personnel, he said they asked the public to file a complaint against those shipping firms that hiked up fare without prior notice.
Ranier Dueñas, Marina-7 supervising maritime industry and development specialists, said that in their previous random monitoring, some companies were discovered to have implemented an increase in fare without notifying Marina-7.
He said they referred the matter to their legal department for administrative sanctions against the erring shipping firms.
Five shipping companies notified the Marina-7 this month that they would increase their fare ranging from 5 percent to 47 percent due to the spiraling cost of fuel.
These Ocean Fast Ferries Inc., which operates Ocean Jets fastcrafts; SRN Fast Seacrafts Inc., which operates Weesam Express vessels; Roble Shipping Co. Inc.; Southern Pacific Transport Corp.; and Medallion Transport.
Ocean Fast Ferries Inc. management also stopped their Libre Balik Promo for Cebu-Tagbilaran routes starting Thursday. Under the promo, round ticket would cost only P500.
Like Ocean Jet, SuperCat Fast Ferry Corp. its Return Trip promo for Cebu-Bohol-Cebu route starting yesterday due to rising operation and fuel costs.
SuperCat's one-way ticket now costs P400 or P800 for round-trip. Under the Return Trip promo, one way ticket cost P425 and a discounted price of P215 for the return trip.
SuperCat supervisor Aldrin Gabutan yesterday said the management decided to stop their promotion due to the series of fuel increase.
He said the new rate could still be considered an increase since the cost of the return trip is now a little higher. Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan
