Central Visayas updates

An order that requires Public Uitlity Vehicle drivers and conductors in Cebu to wear air purifiers is a band-aid solution, a transport group says, adding that the cost of the air purifiers should not be shouldered by transport workers.

"The air purifier is a mere band-aid solution. What the people need now is to hasten the distribution of free and safe vaccines, and free swab testing. Mass testing and contact tracing should also be strengthened, and treatment for COVID-19 positive patients should be free," Greg Perez, chairperson of PISTON-Cebu, says in Cebuano.

"We are still facing a crisis with this pandemic. The drivers have had no income for many months because of the lockdown and the new policies imposed on public transportation. The air purifier is just an additional expense on the part of the drivers and conductors," he also says.

PISTON-Cebu also called for financial aid to workers, including those in thr public transportation sector.

BRP Batak (LC-299) is heading to Tacloban City from Cebu to transport 5,000 boxes of food items from Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) to Tacloban City, Leyte as part of the social amelioration program in Region 8, Naval Forces Central says.

NavForCen says the sealift is part of the DSWD's program "to ensure continuous augmentation of food and other support in the Visayas region."

"The Naval Forces Central, under Central Command will continue its effort to support the whole-of-government to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 to the most vulnerable sectors in the Visayas Region while ensuring safety and security of the people as well as its maritime domain," it also says.

Twenty-three persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center will undergo paralegal training, the Integrated Bar of the Philppines-Cebu says in a news release.

Training in Criminal Procedure, Affidavit-Making, Modes of Release, and special laws such as Dangerous Drugs Act will be handled by lawyer Cathy Alvarez of StreetLawPH with help from law students from SWU College of Law, UV-Gullas Law School and UC School of Law.

Police say nine people died, not 11 as initially reported, in the accident involving a mini dump truck ferrying student athletes and their guardians in Boljoon town in Cebu.

The victims—students and their teachers and parents—were on the way to a district meet in Barangay Poblacion. Police said that the truck was traversing the barrio road of Sitio Lintongan, about 12 kilometers from the highway when the driver, Danilo Niere, lost control of the vehicle.

UPDATE: Based on police statement, only 9 died while 16 were injured after a mini dump truck rammed into a hilly area in Brgy Upper Becirral, Boljoon town, Cebu early Friday morning. | via @clydylavilaTF | Photos by @DiceeMay #TheFreeman100 pic.twitter.com/LoQ1Z2xQV3

— The Freeman (@TheFreemanNews) July 19, 2019

The following are confirmed to have died in the accident:

• Jerome Niere, 11
• Mary Ann Filipino, 12
• Janna Delos Santos, 12
• Clint Isidore Dugang, 10
• Victoria Gorozon, 40
• Jefferson Jorpo, 11
•  Alexander Villanueva, 20
• Mark Mosqueda,12
• Riza Viñan,10

Injured were Angel Ceciban,10; Elvie Jean Gorozon,9; Aga Oliveros,12; Reyan Bentazal,10; Lutchie Rota,11; Roy Endrina,9; Alexes Alloso,10; Analyn Legarte,10; Gracia Denuyo,10; Thea Joy Felipe,8; Bernie Niere,11; Roxan Endrina,11; Chan Endrina,27; Imee Rivas,11; and Annrose Niere,11.

Earlier Friday, 18 people were injured after an airconditioned passenger bus figured in an accident in Barangay Gawi in Oslob town. The driver allegedly also lost control of the vehicle.

— The Freeman/Clydyl Avila and Rowena Capistrano

The Freeman in Cebu reports that 11 have been confirmed dead after a dump truck transporting student athletes rammed into a hilly area in Barangay Viscerel, Boljoon town, Cebu.

Victims were on their way to a district meet in Poblacion.

The truck had swerved to avoid falling off a cliff, the town’s information officer, Ruben Niere, says. — The Freeman

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