Boat in Sinulog fluvial parade sinks

Cebu City – For the first time in many weeks, the weather cooperated with no drizzles at all, that the sun was warming those who joined yesterday morning the fluvial procession of the image of the centuries-old Sto. Niño City.

However, a motorized boat named “Filipino Dream”, capsized while still in Mandaue City port area, after the firecracker, launched from one of the 40 passengers of the boat, hit its parka causing it to crack that caused the vessel to sink in less than five minutes.

PO3 William Carticiano of Mandaue City coast guard said boat owners upon registration were already reminded of the Philippine Coast Guard regulation that “no firecrackers” and no alcohol must be allowed during the fluvial parade, and that there must be enough life vests for all the passengers.

But there was no checking before the boats were allowed to sail, he said.

Carticiano said since there were several sea marshals posted in different areas, all passengers of the capsized boat were quickly evacuated to the bigger boats.

The boat was also overloaded, as its actual capacity was only 15, another violation of the boat.

No one was hurt in the incident, said Carticiano.

Early this week, there was apprehension that the weather, which brought in strong winds over the past weeks, might get worse, that if it happened, the historical reenactment of the 1521 arrival of Ferdinand Magellan to Cebu would likely be cancelled.

Despite such apprehension, the one-hour procession to the Mactan Channel and the major port areas of the city was “successful,” said Cebu Coast Guard deputy Virgilio Tibayan, in an interview shortly after the activity.

Tibayan said there were more than 100 motorized boats which joined the procession, although only 93 of them were registered. – Liv Campo