News Briefs

Search on for 8 fishers at West Philippine Sea

DAGUPAN CITY—Two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessels have started scouring an area in the West Philippine Sea to search for eight Pangasinan fishermen, who were reported missing since Dec. 2. BRP Nueva Vizcaya and NCS 3001 have been searching near the Panatag Shoal (also known as Scarborough Shoal) since Thursday, said Commander Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson. The fishermen were last seen on Dec. 2 in a “payao” (artificial reef) 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) west of Bolinao town by another group of fishermen, who were on their way home to the fishing village of Cato in Infanta town, said Charlito Maniago, Cato village chief. Skipper Pedro Amor, and his crew members Christopher Monje, Alfredo Bautista, Jomar Gamboa, Jun-Jun Amor, Leonardo Nical and two other unidentified men sailed to the West Phiippine Sea aboard the fishing boat John Paul on Nov. 28 to fish in a payao. Maniago said it was supposed to be a weeklong fishing trip. Maniago said he had deployed three fishing boats to help in the search and rescue operations. The PCG has also alerted the Chinese Coast Guard at the shoal, as well as all vessels sailing in the West Philippine Sea, about the missing fishermen, Balilo said. —GABRIEL CARDINOZA

Another worker dies in Hanjin shipyard

SUBIC, ZAMBALES—Despite its commitment to correct deficiencies in the work safety environment, Hanjin Heavy Industries Corp.-Philippines lost another worker on Wednesday. Menard Bartolome, a sandblaster at Hanjin’s shipyard here, died when his head was crushed by an automatic sliding barrier while working in one of the company’s warehouses. Hanjin officials had yet to issue a statement on the accident. Bartolome was the 38th work-related fatality inside the Korean firm’s shipyard at the Redondo Peninsula, according to the Samahan ng Manggagawa sa Hanjin (Samahan). Lawyer Virgie Suarez, counsel of Samahan, said a fellow worker inadvertently pressed a button that activated the barrier that killed Bartolome. The last recorded death of a worker inside the company’s shipyard was in September 2014 when Jerwin Labajan, 23, was pinned by a mobile elevated platform. Hanjin officials earlier said most accidents happened during the construction of the shipyard in 2006.  —ALLAN MACATUNO

Sara commits support for druggies’ rehab

DAVAO CITY—Mayor Sara Duterte has reiterated her full support for the rehabilitation of drug users despite an earlier statement of her father, President Duterte, who said drug addicts have little chance of reforming. “[The war on drugs] is [meant] to eradicate illegal drug use so we won’t need rehabilitation centers anymore,” the mayor said during the groundbreaking rites for a 224-bed drug rehabilitation facility that would rise in Barangay Malagos next year. “I assure you that the city government will always give priority to programs and initiatives for the rehabilitation of citizens who are using drugs,” she said. Duterte said the facility would allow the city to help more drug dependents “win over their destructive habits so they may return to their families as renewed individuals, move forward and contribute to nation building.” The P200-million facility, funded by Resorts World Philippines Cultural Heritage Foundation and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., will be run and operated by the Davao City government. —ALLAN NAWAL AND KARLOS MANLUPIG

Solon says new airport to boost tourism, investments in Bicol

DARAGA, Albay—The operation of a new airport in Bicol region would help spur the region’s economy, as it would attract tourists and investments, Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said. “In Bicol, our future is tourism. It is the most horizontal industry,” he said. “In 2025, combine it with the train (the revived rail line from Metro Manila to Bicol), we can achieve five million,” said Salceda, a former Albay governor. On Thursday, President Duterte joined Albay officials in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Bicol International Airport here. Salceda said Albay is projected to increase its foreign tourist arrivals to 1.25 million once the airport operates. The airport project and the revival of the Philippine National Railways’ south line would create at least 100,000 new jobs for Bicolanos, he said. —REY ANTHONY OSTRIA