Newsbriefs

HELP FOR RETURNEES FROM LIBYA

THE Capitol’s Public Employment Services Office (PESO) yesterday established a help desk for displaced overseas Filipino workers.

Cebuanos have been discouraged from applying for work in the Middle East especially Libya and Syria since chaos erupted in those countries, said Dr. Mathea Baguia, provincial consultant on labor market information.

Baguia said they will help Cebuanos who come home from Libya find employment through their referral system.

“If they want to go into business, we could also help them,” Baguia said.

“We will entertain even those who come from elsewhere in the Visayas and Mindanao.”

Seminars on starting small businesses and technical assistance will be provided by the Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, she said./CORRESPONDENT CARMEL LOISE MATUS

FERRY RETURNS TO PORT

AN Ormoc city-bound ferry sailed back to the Cebu City port after it stalled for 12 hours off the coast of Liloan town, north Cebu due to engine problems yesterday afternoon.

Cebu Coast Guard Station Commander Rolando Punzalan said the MV Super Seattle Ferry 5, which carried 12 passengers and 35 crewmen, left Pier 8 of the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City at 9 p.m. last Monday.

One of the vessel’s two engines conked out at 1 a.m., three hours after its departure. Punzalan said the company’s sister vessel MV Super Seattle Ferry 7 arrived at 11:48 a.m. and towed Super Seattle Ferry 5, which arrived at 1 p.m. at Pier 7.

Punzalan said he ordered the ship captain Axcelino Baretto to submit a marine protest on the incident. He said he wanted to know why the firm only sent its sister vessel after 11 a.m.

Maritime Industry Authority Marina official Mardon Martin said they  already issued a suspension order on the vessel.

Punzalan said Super Seattle Ferry 5 must fix its engine and pass their inspection before it will be cleared for sailing. /Correspondent Jhunnex Napallacan and Reporter Candeze R. Mongaya