Owners told to salvage their boats

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has ordered the owners of fishing boats and small bancas that capsized and drifted from the Hagnaya port in San Remigio town to salvage their vessels.

Eight fishing boats and 12 motor bancas either sank or were damaged when supertyphoon Yolanda battered the Visayas.

Commodore William Melad, commander of the Central Visayas coast guard district, told Cebu Daily News, “It is the responsibility of the owners that is why I am compelling them to salvage their vessels as these pose hazards to navigation.”

It is also hampering delivery of relief goods to Bantayan Island, he added.

Melad said that they also sent coast guard frogmen to help clear out the docking area of the port where most of the fishing boats capsized or drifted.

Missing fishermen

Lt. Robinson Madriaga operations officer of PCG Central Visayas district also told CDN that they had rescued several distressed fishermen when the typhoon struck, but at least three, namely Jose Dawa, Carlos Bayonoon, and Boy Figuracion remain missing.

The following fishing boats capsized during the typhoon: F/B, Julieta, F/B Angel2, F/B Julieta Siete, F/B Inday Tessie3, F/B Bryan3, F/B Grand Princess, F/B RL Starward, F/B Julieta4. The rest are 12 unregistered motor bancas.

Madriaga also added that they are still assessing the damage to other fishing boats and vessels in the other ports of Northern Cebu. /Michelle Joy L. Padayhag, Correspondent