On 27 July 2023, a passenger boat capsized in Laguna de Bay near Binangonan, Rizal, Philippines, while traveling to Talim Island, killing 27 people and leaving 43 survivors. According to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), it happened due to strong wind which made the passengers shift to one side of the boat. The boat identified as M/B Aya Express capsized at around 1 p.m., some 45 meters from the shore near Barangay Kalinawan.
The boat had an authorized capacity of 42 passengers but was carrying substantially more people than were listed on its passenger manifest. The PCG said the manifest declared 22 passengers, while its investigation found that 66 people were aboard the boat at the time of the incident. The incident prompted investigations by the PCG and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), while senators called for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing.
Background
Binangonan is a coastal municipality in Rizal located along Laguna de Bay. Motorized passenger boats routinely transport passengers between communities around the lake. The capsizing was not the first fatal boat accident in Binangonan. On 30 October 2017, eight people died after a boat capsized while passengers were taking selfies at a fishery in the municipality.
On 20 July 2023, Typhoon Doksuri, known locally as Egay, affected the Philippines and enhanced the southwest monsoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain to parts of the country. On 27 July, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that strong winds contributed to the capsizing of the M/B Aya Express in Laguna de Bay near Binangonan.
Incident
On the afternoon of 27 July 2023, the M/B Aya Express was scheduled to leave Binangonan for its regular route to Talim Island. At around 1:00 p.m., the boat capsized near Barangay Kalinawan, approximate 45 meters from the shore, and several hours after Typhoon Doksuri moved away from the Philippines. The initially report from the PCG, that strong winds caused passengers to panic and move toward one side of the boat, causing it to overturn.
The boat was carrying more passengers than its authorized capacity. The PCG reported that the vessel had a maximum capacity of 42 passengers and that only 22 passengers were listed on the manifest, but 66 people were actually aboard when it capsized. The boat's captain admitted that additional passengers had been allowed to board after the manifest had been submitted. According to an Associated Press report, two PCG inspectors had allowed the boat to sail after being shown a manifest listing 22 passengers in addition to the three-member crew. The two inspectors were subsequently removed from their posts and placed under investigation.
A later account of the incident differed from the PCG's initial explanation. During a Senate hearing, survivor John Marley Delos Reyes said that passengers did not panic and that a broken outrigger caused the vessel to roll over. He said the boat encountered heavy rain and strong winds before its outrigger broke. Delos Reyes also said that the boat had life vests, but passengers were not instructed to wear them. He recalled that the captain had returned toward shore to pick up eight additional passengers who had missed the trip. A motorcycle, rice, groceries and textiles were among the goods loaded onto the boat.
Response Fishermen from Barangay Kalinawan were among the first responders after the boat capsized, near the village's shore, prompting local boatmen to travel to the scene and assist passengers. The PCG, police and local rescuers conducted search and retrieval operations in the lake. The PCG resumed its search and retrieval operations the following morning and deployed personnel to recover victims from the area.
Early casualty figures varied as authorities continued to account for the passengers. Initial reports recorded 23 deaths and 40 survivors, while later figures were revised as the search continued. The PCG later reported 27 deaths and 43 survivors. The final number of passengers was difficult to establish because the passenger manifest did not reflect the actual number of people aboard the boat.
Investigation
The PCG and Philippine National Police (PNP) investigated the capsizing. The PCG also relieved two personnel from their positions following the incident to allow a fair, honest and transparent investigation. The PCG found that the boat had more passengers than its authorized capacity. The boat was marked with a capacity of 42 passengers, while authorities later determined that 66 people were aboard during the incident. The boat's manifest listed only 22 passengers before departure. According to the PCG, the captain admitted that additional passengers were allowed to board after the manifest had been submitted to authorities.
Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) suspended the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate (PSSC) of the M/B Aya Express following the incident. The suspension was effective immediately and remained in effect until further notice. The agency also conducted a marine safety investigation into the incident. On 2 August 2023, the PCG filed the syndicated estafa (fraud) complaint with the Office of the Prosecutor in Taytay, Rizal, against the owner and captain of the M/B Aya Express, as well as officials and members of the Talim Island Motorboat and Patrons Association (TIPMOPA), over alleged fraud and misrepresentation related to the boat.
Senate investigation Senator Grace Poe filed Senate Resolution No. 704 seeking an investigation into the capsizing and the deaths of 27 people. The resolution sought to determine accountability for the incident and whether maritime safety regulations had been followed. Senator Raffy Tulfo separately filed Senate Resolution No. 705 calling for an investigation into the incident and possible charges against concerned officials of the PCG and MARINA. The proposed inquiry included questions about the boat's passenger capacity and whether passengers had been provided with life vests.
Senator Jinggoy Estrada called for those responsible for the actions or failures that may have contributed to the tragedy to be held accountable. Quezon City Representative Marvin Rillo questioned why passengers were not wearing life jackets, noting that such equipment was already standard practice on many maritime vessels and resorts.
During the Senate hearing, the boat captain admitted that he had given PCG personnel assigned to bananas worth before the boat departed. PCG spokesperson Armando Balilo denied that coast guard personnel had asked for any goods from the captain. Police officer Jay Rivera, one of the coast guard personnel assigned to the area, admitted that he signed the passenger manifest without personally inspecting the boat before departure. He said the captain submitted the manifest, which listed 22 passengers, at the PCG office about 150 meters from the port. The MARINA also found that boat captain did not possess a valid boat captain's license.
Aftermath Following the capsizing, the PCG assumed control of Binangonan Port and introduced stricter safety measures for passenger boats. Boat captains were required to submit passenger manifests and permits at a PCG checkpoint, where personnel would compare passenger numbers with the authorized capacity. The measures also included reminding passengers to wear life jackets, photographing departing boats and separating heavy cargo from passengers' belongings. The PCG said the measures were intended to strengthen the enforcement of existing maritime safety regulations and improve inspections.
The incident continued to affect survivors and residents of Talim Island, the intended destination of the boat. Survivor Moises Bueza later described difficulty boarding a motorized boat because of his experience during the incident. He eventually returned to a boat to help search for other people. Government agencies and local authorities also provided assistance to victims' families, survivors and responders. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Rizal provincial government and the Binangonan local government provided a combined in assistance, along with psychosocial support.
On 4 September 2023, friends and family members of the victims joined the 40-day memorial at Pritil Fish Port in Binangonan, where they prayed for the victims while lighting candles and putting flowers.
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