CEBU CITY — Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has called out the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for causing delays in the shipment of generator sets that the provincial government purchased for typhoon-affected areas.
Garcia said the vessel that was supposed to transport the generator sets were held by MARINA at Batangas port.
The 35 units of 5KVA Generator sets were supposed to arrive Thursday, December 23, but because of MARINA's intervention, it only arrived on Sunday, December 26.
The gensets were purchased in Southern Luzon and were picked up for free by Cebu-based fastcraft ferry, Fastcat.
“You know what caused the delay? I am saying this now, it was held by MARINA at Batangas Port because supposedly, it was not a regular route of Fastcat,” Garcia said.
The governor said MARINA should have not held the shipment because it was a relief operation.
“Fastcat did not even ask for shipping payments so that gensets can be delivered soonest, because it is direly needed," Garcia said.
The governor said the gensets were intended for typhoon-hit towns and cities in southern Cebu.
"The generator sets will be used to power up water and other essential facilities in the affected communities," Garcia said.