SBMA threatens to fine ‘overstaying’ Viet fishers

About 200 Vietnamese fishermen on board five vessels remain stranded at Subic Bay. (Contributed)

OLONGAPO CITY –– The five Vietnamese vessels stranded here last week have yet to leave the Subic Bay, prompting the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to ask the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure that the foreign fishermen leave the bay area immediately.

Jerome Martinez, general manager of the SBMA Seaport Department, said the Vietnamese fishermen would be fined for overstaying at Subic Bay.

Martinez said SBMA allows sheltering for foreign fishermen in distress.

But he had written Commander Manuel Laroco of the PCG Subic sub-station, saying the vessels needed to leave the port once the weather cleared up.

“Otherwise the appropriate port charges will apply,” Martinez said in a memorandum.

The vessels carrying almost 200 Vietnamese fishermen were forced to seek shelter at Subic Bay due to the inclement weather in the West Philippine Sea on Nov. 6.

The vessels have been stranded for five days in the port of Subic, unable to go back to Vietnam due to lack of fuel.

Local officials said they were giving the stranded fishermen food and water while waiting for the directives of the Vietnamese embassy in Manila./lzb