Authorities have said that possible overloading or excess capacity is one of the reasons being investigated for the sinking of a ferry in the southern part of the country on January 26. The incident resulted in 52 confirmed fatalities, after divers recovered the body of a woman from the wreckage at a depth of an estimated 76 meters. According to reports, hundreds of passengers were on board the ship when it suddenly capsized near the coast of southwestern Mindanao.
Based on initial investigations, the ship's management allegedly failed to follow several important safety protocols, including not weighing vehicles such as trucks and motorcycles before loading. According to the transportation secretary, if there was overcapacity or overloading, the cargo inside the vessel could have shifted, causing it to lose its balance. He added that there is a possibility that other ships in the country are traveling beyond the prescribed weight.
The investigation also revealed that no warning or announcement was given by the crew as the ship began to list. According to the maritime authority investigator, no alarm or public address was recorded before the tragedy. Although it is estimated that at least 368 people were on board, it is possible that the exact number cannot be determined due to the discrepancy between the passenger manifest and the actual number of passengers.
As a result, the shipping company, along with several personnel from the maritime regulatory agencies and coast guard involved in approving the trip, are facing administrative charges. The secretary noted that if it is proven that there was gross negligence, criminal charges may also be filed against those responsible. Some survivors are also pushing for the complete revocation of the company's license as a form of justice for the victims.
The tragedy has reignited the issue of the safety of inter-island ferries in the Philippines, a country of more than 7,000 islands where many rely on affordable maritime transportation. According to maritime safety experts, most such incidents are related to human error and negligence. Amid the ongoing investigation, the public continues to call for stricter enforcement of the law to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
