NEWS BRIEFS

BATTERED VESSEL DOCKED AT DUMAGUETE PIER

The MV Zamboanga Ferry was towed back to the Dumaguete City port last Monday afternoon, a week after it wast battered by strong waves and winds caused by tropical storm “Auring.”

Cebu Coast Guard station commander Capt. Rolando Punzalan said the vessel “extracted by itself” or floated during high tide after they unloaded cargo.

Coast Guard Dumaguete issued an emergency salvage permit to Uni-Orient Pearl Ventures, Inc., a Cebu-based salvage company contracted by George and Peter Lines, to inspect the vessel to determine its seaworthiness.

All 228 passengers on board the vessel were transferred by rubber boat to the pier. Correspondent Joy Cherry S. Quito

ADDITIONAL POLICE FOR SINULOG

CEBU City asked for an additional 1,000 police to secure the city during the annual Sinulog celebration.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, acting Cebu City police chief, said these police personnel will augment the 1,000-strong Cebu City police force for the celebration.

The route of the Jan. 20 Sinulog Grand Parade has eight sectors manned by police, crowd control personnel, medical teams and police supervisors.

City Hall does not issue permits for concerts in major streets held after the Sinulog parade, Natu-el said. Most street parties will be held at Juana Osmeña Extension.

“Sinulog security preparations are all ironed out,” Natu-el said. Kaohsiung buses will be used to fetch out-of-town dance contingents. Correspondent Chito Aragon

MANDAUE DEMOLITION NEXT WEEK

At least 17 houses and stores will be demolished along G. Ouano Extention, barangay Ibabao-Estancia, Mandaue City next week to make way for an access road project. .

Mandaue City legal officer Giovanni Tianero said notices were issued to the house owners last Dec. 7.

The other half of the access road project will cover barangay Ibabao-Estancia heading to the national road in MC Briones, barangay Maguikay. The first half was completed in G. Ouano Extension. Reporter Jucell Marie P. Cuyos