Rep. Hataman assures assistance to victims, survivors of Basilan vessel fire

Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman — File photo / NICO ALCONABA

MANILA, Philippines — Basilan Rep. Mujiv Hataman has assured the public that assistance has been provided to victims and survivors of a fire that hit a vessel in the province, noting that the government has been coordinating with authorities for developments.

Hataman, in a statement on Thursday, said that a P3,000 cash aid had been given to 68 survivors of the ship fire, adding that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has vowed to add P2,000 cash aid for each victim.

As of the latest reports, the death toll in the fire that ravaged Sulu-bound M/V Lady Mary Joy 3 has already reached 26, after rescuers from the Philippine Coast Guard recovered 13 charred bodies inside the ill-fated ship.

“Nakapagpaabot na tayo mula sa ating tanggapan ng tulong pinansyal na P3,000 sa 68 na survivor ng trahedya. At sa pakikipag-ugnayan ng ating tanggapan sa DSWD, nabigyan pa ng karagdagang P2,000 ang bawat biktima na sana ay makatulong sa mga gastusin nila sa kasalukuyan,” Hataman said.

(We have given through our office financial aid worth P3,000 to each of the 68 survivors of this tragedy.  And with our coordination with the DSWD, each victim would receive an additional P2,000, which we hope would help them cope with their expenses.)

“Nakikipag-usap din kami sa mga otoridad at mga opisyal ng lokal na pamahalaan upang siyasatin kung ano ang pwede nating gawin para maiwasan ang ganitong klaseng aksidente.  Sa ngayon, inaalam pa natin mula sa mga ahensya tulad ng DSWD at ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa Basilan kung anong tulong ang maaari pang ibigay sa mga biktima ng insidenteng ito,” he added.

(We are also talking to authorities and officials of the local government to know what we can do to avoid these incidents.  Currently, we are identifying with the DSWD and the local government in Basilan regarding what other assistance may be provided to the victims.)

Hataman also offered his condolences to the victims who died in the fire.

“We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the passengers that perished during a fire that hit a passenger vessel off the waters of Basilan,” he said.

“We are trying to get all information on the ground and formulate our own assessment of the situation, which will be the basis of our next steps in bringing aid to the victims and their families in this tragedy,” he added.

Investigators are still unsure what caused the fire, but it appears the vessel caught fire around 11 p.m. of Wednesday, as it was passing near Baluk-Baluk island of Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan.  This was two hours after the vessel departed from the port of Zamboanga City.

The manifest said the vessel was carrying 205 passengers.

READ: Death toll from vessel fire off Basilan now 26 

JPV/abc