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Pursuant to the provisions of E.O. 125, as amended and the Public Service Act as amended, the following minimum service standards for motorbancas below 20 Gross Tons (GT) are hereby promulgated:

I
Coverage

All owners/operators of motorbancas below 20 GT carrying passengers who are holders of Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC)/Provisional Authority (PA) Special Permit (SP) shall be required to observe the minimum service standards for passenger accommodations.

II
Service Standards

1.         PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION

1.1 Type of accommodation

Fixed seats of any material

1.1.1  Bunk/seating dimension/arrangement

— Size of seat	1.5 ft. (width) x 1.5 ft. (depth) x 2 in (thick) with fixed arm rest and backrest at least 1.5 ft. high from the seat
— Passageway/catwalk	1.5 ft. (width) with railings
— Seat arrangement	Distance between rows should be at least 1.5 ft
1.2 No. of passengers	Determined by the number of permanently fixed seats/bunks.
1.3 Toilet	To be provided

2.         EMBARKATION/DISEMBARKATION
 

2.1 No. of Embarkation/ Disembarkation Points	One (1) or more at Port or Starboard
2.2 Size of Gangway	Minimum of 2.3 ft.
2.3 Size of Gangplank	Minimum of 2 ft. (width) & 2 in. (thick)
2.4 Safety Fixtures of gangplank/gangways

4.1 Non-Skid floorboard or steps	To be provided
4.2 Guardrails (at least one side)	To be provided

2.5       Compliance with Batas Pambansa Blg. 344, otherwise known as the Accessibility Law (RA 7432) - at least front rows with proper markings to be reserved for disabled persons and senior citizens must be provided.

3.         MARKING OF CERTIFICATE OF NUMBER AND PASSENGER CAPACITY

The vessel number and maximum passenger capacity as per MARINA -issued Certificate of Number shall be painted on both sides of the vessel.

III
Implementation

All owners/operators are hereby required:

1.         To submit their motor bancas for inspection within ninety (90) days from effectivity of this Circular; and

2.         To procure a Certificate of Compliance with the provisions of this Circular. Said Certificate of Compliance must be carried on board the motorbanca at all times and shall be made available for inspection at anytime.

IV
Sanctions/Penalties

Failure to comply with the provisions of this Circular shall be subject to the following penalties and sanctions after due notice and hearing:
 

First Violation	Fine of Five Hundred (P 500) Pesos and warning
Second Violation	Fine of One Thousand (P 1,000) Pesos and/or suspension of existing authority to operate, (CPC/PA/SP)
Third Violation	Fine of Three Thousand (P 3,000) and/or cancellation/revocation of existing authority to operate (CPC/PA/SP)

V
Effectivity

This Memorandum Circular shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication once in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines.

Adopted: 17 Sept. 1998

(SGD.) AGUSTIN R. BENGZON
Administrator