Safety First: Lessons from Another Sea Accident

The Boracay Island community is saddened by another senseless death when a speedboat allegedly collided with a fishing boat off the coast of Sitio Diniwid, Brgy. Yapak last September 15. The 25-year-old victim was identified as Melfred Vicente from Brgy. Cubay Sur.

According to information ob

tained by RMN DYKR Kalibo from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)-Caticlan, the incident happened at around 3 p.m. while the victim was fishing with a speargun. He was found floating in the water bearing wounds believed to have been caused by a speedboat propeller.

In a courtesy call to RAdm. Leonard Tirol of the PCGA 609 Squadron on Sept. 18, the newly installed PCG updated that they have filed their report and the incident is now a Maritime Police concern. 

Out of respect for the victim and his family and the ongoing investigation, BSN will withhold further details at this time. We remind the public to avoid speculation or spreading unverified information and to wait for the official report.

An avoidable tragedy  

Anyone who has been on water activities knows that often, the private speedboats ferrying tourists to their hotels are often speeding very close to the shore and to other vessels.

A netizen posted, “The speedboats are too close to shore plus they go very fast!” Another said, “Whenever I do my long-distance swims, I see various boats speeding within the restricted swimming area. It’s as if the drivers of those boats expect the swimmers to evade them instead of the other way around.”

In April 2023, a similar incident occurred when an Ati chieftain died in a boat collision, allegedly fishing at night without lights, while his companion and son-in-law survived and served as the primary witness. A criminal complaint was filed against the skipper of the speedboat who made no attempt to rescue the victims and instead left the scene of the incident. The skipper’s employer later expressed their sympathies and offered support for the victim’s family.A resident said, “Nobody wants these incidents to happen but Boracay waters are very busy with speedboats, sailboats, and leisure boats so changes need to be implemented or it will happen again.”

Urgent call for better enforcement of sea safety regulations

In October 2024, Capt. Rodolfo dela Peña, Jr., then acting commander of PCG-Aklan, enforced regulations for speedboat safety in Boracay, including speed limits and a one-entry/one-exit system for busy sea lanes to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety and order.

To further ensure that Boracay’s waters are safe for everyone, we call on the PCG to enforce the regulations more effectively, especially the speed limits for vessels operating in the Boracay area, and particularly in the swimming areas close to the beaches, as well as the high-traffic areas between the island and the mainland town of Malay. 

A good way to start is to educate sea vessel operators (captains, skippers that transport hotel guests and operate water sports activities), and create awareness campaigns for the diving community, fisherfolk and the general public, and to mark designated sea and swimming lanes with clear markers such as flags and buoys.

⚠️ SAFETY REMINDERS

Boracay Sun News approached RAdm. Leonard Tirol, for clarity on the PCG’s sea vessel regulations and safety measures.

💧Swim close to the lifeguard flags and towers. Lifeguards are responsible for regulating the swimming areas.

⚠️ Swimmers, fishermen and divers must observe the “NO SWIM ZONE” around 300 meters offshore because that is the exclusive “NAUTICAL HIGHWAY” for speedboats, including resort service boats, leisure boats and other vessels. 

🎣 Fishing boats and other vessels are strictly prohibited within the “NO SWIM ZONE” and “NAUTICAL HIGHWAY.”

🚤 Boats are not allowed within the 300-meter swimming area. At night, they should have bright lights when crossing the “NAUTICAL HIGHWAY” so other boats see them and know that they are there.