The Maritime Industry Authority- Domestic Shipping Service (MARINA-DSS) conducted its second leg of the Passenger Service Rating System – Gender and Development (PSRS-GAD) Survey on 08-10 May 2023.

The DSS team, composed of Atty. Patrick D. Ferraro as Team Leader and members, surveyed the vessels MV FastCat M15 and MV Isla Simara, which ply the routes from Batangas to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, and from Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro to Batangas, respectively.

The PSRS is a tool and system for monitoring, assessing, and rating the standard of services provided to passengers by liner and ferry ships operating on domestic routes. The survey also validates the compliance of ships with the Accessibility Law and GAD-related policies/projects of the government in the domestic shipping industry.

The survey includes grading the service elements such as ticketing system, service adequacy, boarding system, baggage stowage and security, passenger accommodation, staff and crew, and GAD-related issues. The results of the survey will be conveyed to ship owners/operators.

Further, the DSS Team also worked on the profiling of cruise routes activity in support of the program for the Modernization and Expansion of the Domestic Shipping Industry (including TDAs and CIWTS) under the Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) 2028. The team met with Mr. Don Stepherson Calda, the Provincial Tourism Officer, to discuss the province of Oriental Mindoro’s intentions for cruise tourism, particularly in the areas of Calapan and Puerto Galera.

During the meeting Mr. Calda mentioned that the province has been following a post-pandemic recovery program and is currently focusing on developing land-based tourism. He also mentioned that cruise tourism is on the last segment of the program which is in 2026–2027.

In addition, three ports—Calapan Port, Puerto Galera Port (Balatero), and Bulalacao Port—are being considered for call-ins by cruise ships. Mr. Calda assured to coordinate and advise MARINA of any updates on the cruise tourism initiatives of the province.

The next PSRS-GAD Survey is set to be conducted on routes such as Cebu-Bohol, Cebu-Surigao, Surigao-Siargao, Iloilo-Bacolod, and Dumaguete-Dapitan in June 2023.

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