Banca with relief goods tips off Negros town

CEBU, Philippines - A motor banca transporting relief goods to the calamity-stricken Negros Oriental tipped on its side when its outrigger broke because of severe weather early yesterday afternoon.

PO1 Joselito de Aquino, desk officer of the Ronda Police, said the motor banca was travelling off the coast of Barangay Cantupa in La Libertad town in Negros Oriental when the incident happened. The banca was sailing from Ronda town.

The motor banca “Agape” was carrying 50 sacks of rice, several dozens of mineral water and Red Cross workers. A certain Jovito Eyak was navigating the vessel.

The banca reportedly tipped on its side around 1:44 pm because of huge waves and strong winds.

Cdr. Rolando Punzalan Jr., Philippine Coast Guard- Central Visayas Station Deputy Commander, said they only received reports about the incident at around 3pm.

Based on the report of PCG Dumaguete, all 50 passengers are now safe following rescue efforts headed by the PCG vessel BRP Pampanga – 033 and two motor bancas that towed the troubled vessel to shore in Barangay Cantupa.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines 302nd Infantry Brigade and Central Command also sent three helicopters to assist in the rescue.

Punzalan said no injury was reported, but PCG will reportedly open an inquiry after it was found out that the vessel’s operator failed to seek clearance from the Coast Guard when it set sail. 

The town of Guihulngan in northern Negros Oriental has been made the entry point of relief goods being distributed to other towns and cities in the province stuck by Monday’s quake.

Guihulngan and La Libertad town in Negros are relatively across Ronda town in Cebu.

Other relief goods from the provincial government of Cebu composed of 100 packs of mineral water, 150 boxes of sardines and 130 boxes of noodles arrived Wednesday night in Guihulngan.

Weather Condition

Meanwhile, in its 5pm bulletin yesterday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) advised fishing boats and small sea crafts not to venture out into the sea.

PAGASA said the eastern seaboard of Visayas and Mindanao will experience rough to very rough sea condition due a Low Pressure Area spotted 230 kilometers East Southeast of Hinatuan City. Wave heights may rise from 3.4 meter to five meters.

Larger sea vessels were also alerted against big waves.

PAGASA said Cebu is likely to experience scattered rainshowers and cloudy weather for the next few days due to the LPA. The LPA is trapped in cold fronts that develop in Eastern Visayas and North Eastern Mindanao, which, weather forecaster Ella Cumahig said is preventing the LPA to develop into a tropical depression.

“Both LPA and Tail-end of a cold front will continue to bring cloudy skies with scattered to widespread rains and thunderstorms in Visayas and Northern and Eastern Mindanao which may trigger flashfloods and landslides,” PAGASA weather advisory said.

Though Cumahig said the LPA will only bring light rain showers but the public must not let their guards down.

“Let us all be alert at all times,” Cumahig said.

Yesterday, from 9:35 a.m. to 1:37 p.m. PAGASA recorded a five millimeter volume of rainfall. — /JMO (FREEMAN)