2 missing fishermen found safe in Batangas

LUCENA CITY — Two fishermen reported missing in the waters of Balayan Bay, Batangas, early Thursday, Aug. 20, were found safe nearly 20 hours later, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported Friday.

The PCG-Batangas station said fellow fishermen spotted the motorized boat carrying the two men in waters off Barangay Anak Dagat in Lemery at about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.

Coast Guard personnel immediately proceeded to the area, rescued the fishermen and brought them to safety.

READ: 3 fishermen missing in waters off Occidental Mindoro

Barangay health workers who attended to the two men found them in good condition and without injuries.

The fishermen told authorities that their boat experienced engine trouble at about 3 a.m. Thursday while they were returning home from a fishing trip, leaving them unable to navigate properly.

They also had no communication equipment, preventing them from immediately informing their families about their situation.

The PCG reminded fishermen to bring appropriate communication equipment and essential safety gear whenever they venture out to sea.

The agency stressed that reliable communication devices can be crucial in alerting authorities and family members during maritime emergencies. /das