PCG: The Philippine Coast Guard has issued a warning to the shipping passengers to refrain from patronizing “fly-by-night” also known as “colorum” inter-island passenger vessels this Holy Week and summer season.

PCG Commandant Rear Admiral William M Melad said that these colorum vessels pose risks to the safety and life of the riding public as they usually are unregistered or lack necessary documentary requirements, thus do not comply with the standards set by MARINA on the safety aspects.

He also stated that some ship owners and operators   take advantage of the huge volume of passengers in different ports and terminals in the provinces most especially in places where families will spend their vacation on major tourist spots since major shipping lines will have a hard time in accommodating all the passengers rushing to the different ports in the country.

“Safety of the public is our primary concern, that’s why we are very serious in monitoring and apprehending these colorum vessels.  First and foremost, they don’t have insurance coverages for their passengers unlike properly documented vessels. Most of them do not have life vests other life saving devices”, Radm Melad added.

PCG also announced that the Coast Guard Action Center (CGAC) has opened its hotline 0917- PCG-DOTC (0917-724-3682) 24/7 to accommodate any concerns, inquiries or reports from the public.