SEN. Francis Escudero called for a nationwide rollout of the government’s maritime digital passenger manifest system after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raised the possibility that the MV June Aster, which caught fire off Palawan last week, may have been carrying more passengers than its official manifest recorded.
Escudero said the sea tragedy in Coron, Palawan, once again exposed critical gaps in maritime safety protocols, underscoring the urgent need to real-time passenger data during emergencies.
While the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) already mandated the use of digital passenger manifests to curb overloading and strengthen sea safety, he said that implementation across regional ports remains inconsistent.
“What happened to MV June Aster shows why we must accelerate and expand the rollout,” Escudero said in a statement.
Last March, Marina tapped Iloilo and Guimaras as pilot areas where it implemented tap‑and‑go cards that automatically generate manifests and QR‑based registration via a mobile app developed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology.
These technologies provide port authorities and the PCG with accurate, real‑time data before any vessel leaves the pier, significantly strengthening emergency response capabilities.
Escudero said that several Asean neighbors have adopted stricter digital manifest protocols, and the Philippines must “catch up” to prevent tragedies from being compounded by information gaps.
The senator said that Singapore and Malaysia require electronic submission of manifests before sailing, Indonesia uses QR‑based boarding systems, and Japan and South Korea mandate real‑time electronic manifests for all commercial passenger vessels.
He said the Philippines must adopt similar standards to ensure maritime safety keeps pace with regional best practices.
“If aviation has a strict real-time digital passenger manifest, the same standard should apply to our maritime sector. In an era of digital systems and real-time reporting, there should not be such a significant gap in information,” Escudero said, adding that millions of Filipinos rely on inter‑island travel and deserve the same level of protection.
The senator also extended his condolences to the families of the victims and urged government agencies and the ship’s owners to provide full assistance to relatives arriving in Palawan. He likewise called for support for survivors being treated in hospitals.
The PCG said there were 132 people on board the MV June Aster as per the manifest. Of these, 76 have been confirmed dead, 43 survivors have been accounted for, and 13 remain missing. Two passengers listed in the manifest did not board. Escudero said the tragedy should lead to a comprehensive review of the country’s maritime safety system, including fire suppression standards under the Philippine Ship Safety Rules and Regulations; crew training and certification under the Standards of Training; Certification and Watchkeeping; vessel age limits under the Domestic Shipping Development Act; and regulatory oversight by the Philippine Coast Guard Law.
“It has been almost five days since the incident, and the investigation must be expedited. As we grieve, we must also act,” he said. “This kind of tragedy, which could have been prevented, should never happen again. Let us ensure safe journeys for every passenger traveling across our waters.”
