Asian Shipping offers free ride to Leyte for volunteers, equipment

CEBU, Philippines - Toledo City Councilor Ricardo “Kuya Nick” Pepito has offered two big barges or Landing Craft Tanks (LCT) under Asian Shipping Corporation to ferry volunteer workers to Tacloban City via Ormoc City.

LCT Edison left Pier 7 in Mandaue City last night loaded with the heavy equipment of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), personnel and almost 70 volunteers from Cebu City government.

Pepito said that the equipment should be in Tacloban City today where MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino is also set to arrive to supervise works.

The equipment include bulldozers, thriller, two buses, forklift, dump trucks, loader, container van, boom truck, generator set, hydraulic mechanical platform truck, ambulance and others.

Ormoc City is the nearest port in going to Tacloban City and nearby provinces.

Pepito said that it takes 28 hours to travel from Cebu City to Tacloban City.

Also the relief goods from the municipality of Liloan were also carried by the vessel last night for Ormoc City.

LCT Edison will return to Cebu City tonight to ferry back the volunteer workers while LCT Victoria will also leave tonight from Pier 7 in Mandaue City to Ormoc to carry other equipments and relief goods.

Pepito said that from Ormoc, LCT Victoria will go to Davao City to ferry volunteers of the Philippine Red Cross back to Ormoc.

Since the barges are for cargoes, Pepito said he has asked clearance and special permit from the Coast Guard and Maritime Industry Authority for passengers going along with the equipment and relief goods.  (FREEMAN)